V 


Wt)t  Milton  Catec|ri0m 


AN    OUTLINE    OF    THE    HISTORY 
OF  MILTON,  MASSACHUSETTS 


ILLUSTRATED 


PUBLISHED  BY 

MILTON    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY 
ii 

1910 


Copyrighted,  1910, 

BT 

Milton  Historical  Society 


THE  ROCKWELL  &   CHURCHILL  PRESS,   BOSTON 


PREFACE 


ONE  of  the  objects  which  the  committee  of  the  Milton 
Historical  Society  who  are  responsible  for  this  out- 
line have  had  in  mind  is  to  supply  our  school  teachers  with 
a  convenient  basis  for  the  study  of  the  history  of  our  town 
and  of  its  political,  social  and  industrial  conditions,  so  that 
when  the  children  become  men  and  women  they  may  more 
earnestly  and  wisely  strive  for  the  welfare  of  their  town  and 
hence  of  their  country.  But  it  is  hoped  that  the  usefulness 
of  the  outline  will  reach  further  than  the  schools  and  that  it 
will  be  for  the  community  not  only  such  a  stimulus  to 
patriotism  as  the  study  of  history  should  always  be,  but 
also  a  helpful  guide  to  fertile  and  interesting  fields  of 
knowledge. 

The  committee  wish  to  acknowledge  with  gratitude  their 
debt  to  the  Brookline  Education  Society,  whose  Guide  to 
the  Local  History  of  Brookline  has  been  to  them  both  an 
incitement  and  a  model,  and  to  the  Milton  Public  Library 
for  valuable  assistance  in  preparing  the  work  for  the 
printer. 

Andrew  Henshaw  Ward, 
Florence  G.  Houghton, 
Eleanor  P.  Martin, 
Mary  Rivers, 
Asher  J.  Jacoby, 

Committee. 

(5) 


M2932304 


CONTENTS 


A.  Geography  of  Milton Andrew  H.  Ward 

B.  Geology  of  Milton William  L.  W.  Field 

C.  Settlement  of  Milton  "] 

D.  Separation  of  Milton  from  Dorchester  \  Miss  Eleanor  P.  Martin 

E.  Old  Buildings  of  Milton  J 

F.  Transportation  and  Routes  of  Travel     .    Miss  Mary  H.  Hinckley 

G.  Slavery  in  Milton Miss  Harriet  E.  Tuell 

H.     Milton  in  the  Wars  : 

Milton  in  the  Revolution Miss  Mary  Rivers 

Milton  in  the  War  of  1812  ] 

Miss  Harriet  E.  Tuell 


Milton  in  the  Mexican  War  I 


Milton  in  the  Civil  War 
Milton  in  the  Spanish  War  J 

{Asher  J.  Jacoby 
Miss  Florence  G.  Houghton 

J.     Milton  Churches Roderick  Stebbins 

K.     Milton  Industries Mrs.  Frederick  M.  Hamlin 

L.    Miscellaneous 


! 


Andrew  H.  Ward 
M.    Topics  for  Special  Study 

_,  ^  f  Andrew  H.  Ward 

N.     General  References ■{ 

J  Miss  Lucy  D.  Luard 


(7) 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Blue  Hill  from  Houghton's  Pond Frontispiece 

PAGE 

Paul's  Bridge 10 

Old  Indian  Trail 15 

The  Rising  Sun  Tavern 19 

The  Suffolk  Resolves  House 23 

The  Pound  and  the  Gulliver  Elm 21) 

Memorial  Stone  and  Rails  of  the  First  Railway  in  America      .  35 

Gov.  Hutchinson's  House,  1743 41 

The  Town  Hall 45 

The  Vosb  School,  1910 51 

The  High  School 57 

The    Old    Milton    Academy,    1804.     Later    used    for    the    High 

School 63 

Milton  Academy,  1910 67 

Chocolate  Mills 73 

The  Public  Library     . 79 

Meteorological  Station  on  Blue  Hill 83 


(*> 


-  ♦        *itt»          *    3 

»t«- : — *^w." 

jpi          i 

S^O' 

V    •   15L 

tt  18 

M 

Vle| 

*             - 

b.^^H 

-     ■  *■*» 

■Mr 

5 

Jfc*i 

-,> 

Jfe    ' 

i 

Wh^jSl'J 

tfSf*:      -  ^&* 

-*%af~^k 

jBr    "^ 

■*'&M  P 

jSf^y  ( I 

j»^Y'' 

■  ^^H^ 

iS^T] 

fmrm 

5  "tl^m^k^'^^ 

r 

%%.        —i 

"\^Vi 

^fi^Hr   T* 

j§| 

***g^' 

THE    MILTON    CATECHISM 


A*    Geography 

I.  A  detailed  study  of  present  and  past  physical  condi- 
tions. —  Give  lessons  from  hill-tops ;  point  out  particular 
hills,  valleys,  streams,  ponds,  swamps,  meadow  lands, 
woods,  bays;  e.g.,  locate  Blue  Hill,  Brush  Hill,  Milton 
Hill,  The  Centre,  Houghton's  Pond,  Ponkapog  Pond,  Tur- 
ner's Pond,  Pope's  Pond,  Cunningham  Park,  Gov.  Hutch- 
inson Field,  Neponset  River,  Pine  Tree  Brook,  Unquity 
Brook,  the  quarries,  Neponset  salt  marshes,  Gulliver's 
Creek,  Granite  Bridge,  Neponset  Meadows  above  Paul's 
Bridge,  the  limits  of  the  Reservation,  swamp  in  the  Reser- 
vation, the  old  channel  of  the  Neponset  River,  Vose's  Lane, 
etc.  Reproduce  the  same  on  the  sand  table.  Call  attention 
to  changes  of  physical  features  due  to  grading  for  new 
streets,  drainage  of  swamps,  erosion  of  hills,  cuts  for  rail- 
roads (e.g.,  near  Central  Avenue  Station). 

II.  Direction  lessons.  —  Direction  of  Boston,  Boston 
Harbor,  light  houses,  Nantasket,  State  House,  Dorchester 
Heights,  Quincy,  Randolph,  Brookline,  Mt.  Wachusett, 
Miles  Standish  Monument,  Dedham,  Charles  River,  Salem, 
Cape  Ann,  Cape  Cod,  Nahant,  Lexington,  Concord,  Bunker 
Hill,  Moon  Island,  Hough's  Neck.  (See  chart  of  directions 
from  Blue  Hill.) 

III.  Study  of  political  map.  —  Explanation  of  map, 
symbols  for  rivers,  hills,  streets,  etc.  Draw  outline  maps 
and  locate  hills,  ponds,  principal  streets,  public  buildings. 
Bound  the  town. 

(11) 


12 


B*    Geology  of  Milton 

(The  pupil  should  refer  to  the  Boston  and  Dedham  quad- 
rangles of  the  Topographic  Map  of  the  United  States,  pub- 
lished by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  Washington, 
D.C.,  and  sold  at  six  cents  per  quadrangle.  Most  libraries 
and  schools  are  supplied  with  these  maps.) 

Q.  What  is  the  highest  point  in  Milton,  and  how  high  is 
it  above  mean  sea  level? 

Q.     What  is  the  lowest  point,  and  what  is  its  elevation? 

Q.  What  is  the  principal  river  of  the  region?  What 
relation  does  this  bear  to  the  "  lowest  point  "  just  sought? 
Why? 

Q.     What  are  the  principal  tributaries  of  the  river? 

Q.     Where  is  the  "head  of  navigation  "  on  this  river? 

Q.  What  are  the  names  of  the  principal  hills  of  the  Blue 
Hills  range? 

Q.  Why  is  this  range  so  high  and  rugged  as  compared 
with  the  surrounding  country  ? 

A.  Because  it  is  composed  of  very  resistant  rocks, 
which  crumble  and  waste  away  very  slowly. 

Q.     What  are  some  of  these  resistant  rocks  ? 

A.     Granite,  quartz,  porphyry,  and  felsite. 

Q.     Which  of  these  is  most  useful  to  man? 

A.  Granite  and  felsite.  The  latter  is  an  ancient  lava, 
of  a  purplish  color,  marked  with  light  wavy  bands.  It  is 
used  in  building  roads. 

Q.  How  has  the  Blue  Hills  range  influenced  travel  and 
settlement  ? 

(Note  that  Canton  avenue  curves  around  the  end  of  the 
range,  while  Hillside  street  and  Randolph  avenue  occupy 
the  lowest  passes  to  be  found  in  it.  Find  the  heights  of 
these  passes.) 

Find  Arlington  Heights,  a  group  of  abrupt  hills  north- 


13 

west  of  Boston.  Between  the  Blue  Hills  and  Arlington 
Heights  lies  the  small  area  of  lowland  known  as  the  Boston 
Basin. 

Q.     How  much  of  Milton  lies  within  the  Boston  Basin? 

Q.  What  kinds  of  rock  compose  the  floor  of  the  Boston 
Basin  ? 

A.  Conglomerate  (puddingstone),  sandstone,  and  slate, 
with  some  remnants  of  old  lava  flows  by  which  they  were 
invaded  and  disturbed. 

Q.  How  were  the  conglomerate,  sandstone,  and  slate 
formed  ? 

A.  As  sedimentary  deposits  of  materials  derived  from 
the  neighboring  highlands  at  a  time  when  the  sea  covered 
the  lowland.  The  conglomerate  was  formed  as  a  coarse 
deposit  near  shore ;  the  sandstone  as  a  finer  deposit  farther 
out ;  the  slate  as  an  accumulation  of  very  fine  mud  still 
farther  from  the  land.  Long-continued  sinking  of  the 
region  allowed  these  sediments  to  accumulate  to  great 
depths. 

Q.  Of  what  kinds  of  rock  are  the  pebbles  in  the  con- 
glomerate ? 

A.     Mainly  granite  and  felsite. 

Q.  Why  are  these  sedimentary  rocks  not  now  found  in 
continuous,  even  layers,  except  where  disturbed  by  the  lava 
flows? 

A.  Because  by  slow  movements  in  the  earth's  crust 
these  layers  were  in  the  course  of  ages  so  folded  and  broken 
that  the  pattern  of  the  rocks  is  now  very  complex. 

Q.  In  what  parts  of  Milton  are  these  sedimentary  rocks 
now  found  outcropping  as  ledges? 

Q.  In  what  other  parts  of  Milton  are  scattered  fragments, 
or  boulders,  of  these  rocks  found? 

Q.  By  what  agency  were  these  boulders  broken  from 
the  ledges  and  carried  to  distant  points  ? 


14 

A.  By  the  great  Ice  sheet,  which  overspread  northern 
North  America  many  thousands  of  years  ago,  yet  very 
recently  as  geological  time  is  reckoned. 

Q.  What  other  effects  of  the  Ice  Age  are  to  be  seen  in 
Milton? 

A.  Widespread  deposits  of  gravel  and  sand ;  bare 
ledges  of  granite,  polished  and  scratched  by  the  movement 
of  ice  and  the  dragging  of  rock  fragments  over  them  ; 
smooth  oval  hills  or  "drumlins,"  shaped  out  of  boulder- 
clay  (hard-pan)  in  a  way  not  yet  clearly  understood ;  and 
the  prevailing  disarrangement  of  the  courses  of  the  streams, 
which  find  themselves  in  many  cases  superposed  upon  rock 
ridges,  so  that  rapids  and  gorges  are  formed. 

Q.  In  what  way  has  this  disarrangement  of  the  streams 
been  favorable  to  the  development  of  manufacturing  indus- 
tries? 

Q.  What  determined  the  location  of  villages  at  Milton 
Lower  Mills  and  Mattapan  ? 

Q.  If  the  rock  ridges  were  completely  cut  through,  and 
all  mill-dams  were  removed,  what  would  happen  to  the 
meadows  along  the  upper  course  of  the  Neponset  and 
along  its  tributaries? 

Q.  What  geological  changes  are  now  going  on  in  the 
region  ? 

A.  Slow  folding  and  compression  of  the  rocks,  still  in 
progress  deep  beneath  the  surface  of  the  earth ;  weathering, 
and  erosion  by  streams,  of  the  general  surface,  especially 
rapid  on  steep  slopes ;  the  gradual  subsidence  of  the  coast 
(at  a  rate,  just  now,  of  about  two  feet  per  century), 
making  estuaries  at  the  mouths  of  rivers ;  and  the  growth 
of  marshes  in  protected  parts  of  the  estuaries,  where 
deposits  of  mud  accumulate  and  vegetation  thrives. 


?-^Jw^fe%a^  .'11  »•' 

-■    V,     '•  1,  •       „          .       .                                _      _ 

17 


C    The  Settlement  of  Milton 
Q.     What  was  the  old  name  of  Milton?  golony 

^  Records,  v.  4, 

A.     Unquatiquisset  or  Unquity.  Dorchester 

Q.     Why  was  it  so  called  ?  Record8'  p' 102- 

A.     The  word  is  of  Indian  origin,  signifying  the  head  of  Jfe5ieiitonfpJT 

tide-water.  34»35' 

Q.     Who  were  the  earliest  known  inhabitants  of  Unquity  ? 
A.     The  Indians. 
Q.     What  was  the  general  appearance  of  the  place  before 

the  white  settlers  came? 

A.     A  dense  primeval  forest  threaded  only   by   Indian  winthrop,  His- 
r  (  t  .  tory of  New 

trails,    cleared   plains   waving   with   maize,    meadows  andS11*1*?*- 

*  C  Hutchinson, 

marshes    with   rank,  uncut,  native  grass  four  or  five  feet  S^alhuLtts 
high,    more    numerous    and   larger   watercourses,    chief  of y,1,p"425; 
which  was  the  Neponset  river,  with  matchless  and  varied 
beauty  untouched  save  for  the  light  canoe  of  the  Indian  in 
his  journey  to  the  falls  in  search  of  shad,  alewives,  etc. 

Q.     When  and  how  did  the  white  settlers  first  come  into 
possession  of  the  land? 

A.     In  1636,  by  this  means:     Unquity  was  part  of  theg^™^ 
undivided  land,  granted  by  Charles  I.  to  the  Massachusetts  p- 162- 

°  J  Dorchester 

Bay  Colony.  The  General  Court,  which  had  jurisdiction  Records,  P.  142. 
in  colonial  affairs,  upon  request  of  the  Dorchester  pioneers 
granted  the  territory  to  the  town  of  Dorchester  in  1636. 
To  make  the  title  doubly  clear,  at  the  same  time  the  land 
was  bought  of  the  Indians  for  twenty-eight  fathoms  of 
wampum. 

Q.     What  use  did  the  Dorchester  settlers  at  first  make  of 
the  Unquity  lands  ? 

A.     They  cut  timber  from  the  woods  for  their  houses  and  ft£™rds8.ter 
ships,  and  used  the  meadows  as  common  pasture  land  for 
their  cattle. 


18 

Q.     When   and   by  whom  was  the  first  house  built  in 
Unquity  ? 
Reco?d88ter  7         A-     Probably  in  1634,  by  Richard  Collicot.     (This,  how- 
ever, cannot  be  easily  proved,  as  the  records  of  deeds  do 
not  reach  back  as  far  as  the  original  grants.) 
Q.     Where  did  Collicot's  house  stand? 
Records  of  Pro-     a.     On  the  west  side  of  Adams  street  near  the  junction 

pnetors  of  Dor-  ° 

cheater,  v.  2,     of  Centre  street. 

Q.  Was  the  name  of  "  Collicot "  ever  spelled  differently  ? 
Miiton  Town         A.     The  name  was  spelled  in  no  less  than   twenty-one 

Records. 

colony  different  forms. 

ivccorus, 

D.    The  Separation  of  Milton  from  Dorchester 
Q.     W^here  did  the  pioneers  of  Unquity  settle  ? 
A.     Principally  on  the  "  Country  Highway"  over  Milton 
hill. 

Q.     What  were  the  chief  occupations  ? 
Probate  A.     Farming,  fur-trading,  ship-building,  and  tanning. 

Records  of  ° '  ° '  L  °  ° 

Suffolk.  q      How  large  had  the  settlement   become   when   they 

petitioned  the  General  Court  to  be  made  a  separate  town  ? 
?.ufolk208ed8'       A*     About  twenty  families. 

Q.     Why  did  they  wish  to  form  a  town  by  themselves  ? 
ofeMUton8tor33      ^'     Because  of  the  inconvenience  of  attending  religious 
and  civil  meetings  at  the  distant  Dorchester  village. 

Q.  When  was  Unquity  incorporated  as  a  separate  town  ? 
Records,  v. 4,  A-  In  1662> —  some  time  between  May  7  and  October  8. 
p'50,  Q.     What  new  name  was  given  the  town,  and  why? 

A.  Milton  —  probably  from  Milton,  England,  in  har- 
mony with  the  general  custom  of  naming  New  England 
towns  for  those  of  old  England. 


21 


E*    The  Old  Buildings  of  Milton 
Q.      When  was  the  first  meeting-house  in  Milton   built 

and  where  ? 

A.     The  first  meeting-house  in  Milton   (then  Unquity),  g£™J|Jter  102 

was  built  as  early  as  September,  1660,  and  stood  on  Adams 

street  at  the  head  of  Churchill's  lane. 

Q.     Where  did  the  early  inhabitants  attend  church? 

A.       In  Dorchester.  Dorchester 

Records. 

Q.     Where  was  the  first  school-house  probably  located? 

A.     The  first  school-house  was  probably  on  Milton  Hill Teeie .History 

r  j  0f  Milton,  p. 

near  Churchill's  lane.  The  first  school-houses  of  which  ^?ltonTown 
there  is  actual  record  are  the  two  built  in  the  east  and  west  p1  e^£d8' v<  *' 
ends  of  the  town  in  1718. 

Q.     What  were  the  dimensions  of  these  buildings  ?  MutonTown 

^  °  Records,  v.  1, 

A.  Sixteen  feet  by  twenty  feet.  p-273- 

Q.  What  was  taught  in  the  first  schools? 

A.  The  subjects  taught  were  reading  and  writing.  Record^0™ 

Q.  What  was  the  Rising  Sun  Tavern? 

A.  The  Rising  Sun  Tavern  was  the  building  still  stand- 
ing  on  the  corner  of  Adams  street  and  Canton  avenue. 

Q.  What  other  old  Milton  taverns  are  famous  ? 

A.  Some  of  the  other  old  Milton  taverns  were  Atherton  Tee1/. History 

of  Mdton. 

Tavern,  which,  remodeled  as  a  dwelling,  still  stands  on  the 
same  spot  on  the  corner  of  Canton  avenue  and  Atherton 
street ;  Bent  Tavern  and  Bradlee  Tavern,  which  previously 
occupied  the  same  site ;  Billings  Tavern,  called  in  the 
nineteenth  century  Blue  Hill  Tavern  (a  famed  resort  for 
sumptuous  dinners) ,  which  stood  on  Canton  avenue  directly 
in  front  of  Mr.  Wainwright's  house  ;  Clark's  Tavern  on 
Randolph  avenue,  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Richards ;  Glover's 
Tavern  on  Milton  Hill,  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Faucon ; 
Babcock  Tavern  in  Milton  village,  since  called  the  Stanley 


22 


Teele,  Hiatory 
of  Milton. 


house ;    and  White's  or  Wild's   Tavern,  which  stood  near 
Mr.  Copeland's,  later  was  moved,  and  finally  demolished. 

Q.  What  are  some  of  the  oldest  houses  now  standing 
in  Milton? 

A.  Some  of  the  oldest  houses  in  Milton  are  the  Tucker 
house  on  Brush  Hill  built  by  Robert  Tucker  before  1681, 
now  owned  by  Mr.  Joseph  Whitney ;  the  Babcock  house 
on  Brook  road  built  by  Jonathan  Babcock  before  1094,  now 
owned  by  Mr.  J.  Harvey  Dudley ;  the  house  on  Ruggles 
lane,  probably  built  by  Robert  Babcock,  before  1694,  now 
owned  by  Mr.  T.  E.  Ruggles ;  and  the  Stanley  house, 
Milton  village,  built  by  William  Babcock  before  1732, 
lately  occupied  by  Mrs.  Safford. 

Q.  What  are  some  of  the  historic  houses  no  longer 
standing  ? 

A.  Governor  Hutchinson's  house  on  Milton  Hill  and 
Governor  Belcher's  house  at  East  Milton. 

Q.     What   is   the  most   interesting  buildi 
historically  speaking  ? 

A.     The  house  in  Milton  village  owned  by  Mr.  N 
Safford. 

Q.     What  important  event  occurred  here? 

A.  The  assembling  of  the  Suffolk  County  congress  — 
the  county  congresses  being  the  first  step  in  organized 
opposition  to  Great  Britain  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. 


in  Milton, 


M. 


Teele,  History 

of  Milton,  p. 

197. 

Milton  Leader, 

Jan.  24,  1902. 


F.    Transportation  and  Routes  of  Travel 
Q.     What  was  the  route  of  the  old  Indian  trail  through 

Milton? 

A.     It  ran  from  the  Blue  Hills  to  tide-water,  along  the 

general  course  of  Brush  Hill  road  to  Thacher's  Plain,  across 

Brook  road  through  Columbine  district,  Ruggle's  lane  and 

Canton  avenue,  to  Milton  Lower  Mills. 


■m  - 


:■ 


0     .v     ,  . 


>m$  ;:  •v> 


**€• 


v  •••'Y 


i  '  !$ 


25 

Q.  What  especial  interest  attaches  itself  to  Thachers 
Plain? 

A.     It  was  a  corn-field  of  the  Indians  and  later  the  home  T?*}?>  Hist0!;y 

of  Milton,  p.  153. 

of  Rev.  Peter  Thacher. 

Q.     By  what  other  name  was  it  known  in  earlier  days? 

A.     Providence  Plain.  Suffolk  Deeds, 

v.  1,  p.  60. 

Q.     What  was  the  first  recorded  road  in  Milton  ? 

A.     "Country  Highway"  or   old    Plvmouth   road,  now  Dorchester 

.  &      .  .  .  Records,  p.  70. 

Adams  street,  laid  out  in  1654  by  the  inhabitants  of  Dor- 
chester from  Braintree  bounds  (now  Quincy)  over  Milton 
hill  through  Dorchester  to  Roxbury  line. 

Q.     Was  there  any  pathway  before  this  road? 

A.  "  Country  Highway  "  was  laid  out  over  the  old  trail 
or  pathway  that  had  existed  from  earliest  times  between 
Massachusetts  Bay  and  Plymouth  Colony. 

Q.  What  was  the  great  obstacle  that  confronted  travel 
between  Dorchester  and  Braintree? 

A.     The  crossing  of  the  Neponset  river. 

Q.     Where  were  the  early  fords  of  the  river  ? 

A.  One  at  Milton  Lower  Mills,  a  short  distance  above 
the  present  bridge,  and  another  at  Mattapan  west  of  the 
bridge  that  now  spans  the  river. 

Q.  What  ancient  roads  are  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
town? 

A.     The  old  road   to    Squantum  and   the  old  way  now  Mass.  Bay 
almost  effaced  that  led  off  from  Squantum  road  to  the  first  Records,  v.  i, 
landing  on  Gulliver's  creek. 

Q.  What  ancient  ways  now  extinct  formed  a  highway  of 
the  town  for  more  than  ninety  years  ? 

A.     The  old  road  around  Wigwam  Hill  on  the  west,  laidTo,wnRecords, 

C  v.  1,  p.  123. 

out  in  1764,  which,  united  with  a  road  of  still  earlier  date,  SKfpp1 !»& 
formed  a  highway  from  Pine  Tree  brook  to  the  meeting-248, 
house,  Vose's  lane. 


26 

Q.  When  was  the  first  bridge  across  Neponset  river 
built? 

A.  In  1634  by  Israel  Stoughton.  This  was  probably 
only  a  foot-bridge.  In  1655  a  sufficient  cart  bridge  was 
built. 

Q.     What  other  means  of  communication  was  established 
between  the  bay  and  the  Plymouth  Colonies  in  early  days  ? 
oSt026 Rm?d'       A.     A  ferry  across  Neponset  river  between  Dorchester 
and  Braintree. 

Q.     What  effect  did  the  building  of  Plymouth  road  have 
on  the  ferry  between  Dorchester  and  Braintree  ? 
Re88oiV^cti79Td     A.     The  ferry  was  abandoned  for  the  more  convenient 
chap.  ae.  route   over   Milton   Hill   and  across    the  bridge  at  Milton 

Lower  Mills. 

Q.     What  other  roads  are  recorded  as  laid  out    before 
Milton  was  incorporated  as  a  town? 
Dorchester  a.     In  1660  a  road  following  the  general  lines  of  Canton 

Records,  pp.  °  ° 

TVeli^Historv  avenue>  and   probably  as  far  as  its  junction  with    Brook 
?lofiiTn'  pp'    road  ;  and  in  1660-1661  a  road  along  the  lines  of  Churchill's 
lane. 

Q.     What  was  the  first  recorded  road  built  after  Milton 
was  incorporated  as  a  town? 
A.     Pleasant  street,  in  1669. 

Q.     When  was  Brush  Hill  road  laid  out  as  a  highway? 
ofMnto^p?^.      A-     In  1676-1677,  from  the  ford  at  the  Neponset  river, 
Mattapan,  along  the  cattle  beat  to  the  ox-pen,  which  stood 
near  where  Brook  road  crosses  the  parkway,  and  thence  up 
the  "  beaten  rode,"  originally  the  course  of  the  Indian  trail, 
to  the  way  leading  to  the  Blue  Hill  meadows.     Brush  Hill 
road  was  widened    and  made    more    convenient    in    1706. 
Q.     What  was  the  ox-pen? 
Re^rord8,tepr. 62.       A.     An  enclosure  where  oxen  and  steers,  pastured  in  the 
vicinity  by  the  Dorchester  proprietors  of  the  common  lands, 
were  driven  and  held  at  night. 


27 

Q.     When  was  the  road  to  Neponset  river  at  Mattapan 
laid  out? 

A.     In  1712  a  road  was  laid  out  that  led  from  the  ox-pen  T/Sfet™8tory 
to  the  river  "  where  there  is  to  be  a  cart-bridge  erected."       p* 202* 

Q.     When  was  the  bridge  at  Mattapan  built? 

A.     "There  had  been  a  bridge  of  some  kind  at  this  point Teeie, History 

&  r  of  Milton, p.  360. 

for   many  years,  probably  a  foot-bridge  near   the  ford  to  ^VV^S?-' 
accommodate   farmers   in    reaching   the  ox-pen,"  and  mill379, 
owners  must   have  had  a  private  bridge ;    but  the  county 
bridge  was  not  built  until  1736. 

Q.     When  was  Canton  avenue  laid  out? 

A.     In  1680  it  was  voted  to  build  a  cart  bridge  over  Pine  Teeie ;,  History 

*=>  of  Milton,  p.  197. 

Tree  brook  and  lay  out  a  public  way  from  thence  to  the  x|frea»t^orical 
head   of    Vose's    lane.     "March    20,    1723-1724,    Canton  p-63- 
avenue  was  laid  out  a  second  time,  and  built  from  the  old 
Atherton  tavern,  to  near  Nathaniel  Pitcher's  house  (corner 
Thacher  street),  one  and  a  half  rods  on  each  side  of  the 
parallel  line." 

Q.     Why  was  this  called  Pine  Tree  bridge? 

A.     Because   foot  travel   at  an  earlier  date  crossed  the  Teeie ;,  History 

of  Milton, 

brook  on  a  large  pine  tree  felled  across  it.     "  From  this  cir-  p-  166- 
cumstance  the  stream  at  this  point  from  the  earliest  times 
has  borne  the  name  of  '  Pine  Tree  Brook.' " 

Q.     When  was  the  road  extended  to  Canton? 

A.     In  1681,  "a  year  after  the  road  was  open  from  the  Teeie,  History 

.  .  -.  of  Milton, 

pine   trees  to  the   meeting-house,  it  was  extended   to  the  p.  w- 
Dorchester  line  (now  Canton)." 

Q.     By  what  names  had  Canton  avenue  been  known? 

A.     Middle     street,     Old    Taunton    road,     Washington 
street,  and  the  road  to  Stoughton. 

Q.     By  what  name  has  Highland  street  been  known  ? 

A.     The  road  to  Bridgewater.  f^V^'' 

Q.     When  were  Hillside  and  Highland  streets  laid  out? 


28 
Teeie,  HiBtory       A.     They  are  a  part  of  the  road  laid  out  in  1713. 

of  Milton,  *  r 

p-  203-  Q.     What  turnpike  roads  were  built  in  the  early  part  of 

the  nineteenth  century? 

A.  Blue  Hill  or  Randolph  turnpike,  now  Randolph 
avenue,  was  located  in  1804-5  ;  and  Brush  Hill  turnpike, 
now  Blue  Hill  avenue,  in  1805-9. 

Q.  Where  did  the  toll  house  stand  on  Blue  Hill  turn- 
pike, now  Randolph  avenue? 

A.  On  the  west  side  between  the  Baptist  Chapel  and 
Clark's  tavern. 

Q.  Where  did  the  toll  house  stand  on  Brush  Hill  turn- 
pike? 

A.  On  the  northeast  corner  of  Blue  Hill  avenue  and 
Robbins  street.  Later  it  was  moved  to  the  Sumner  land 
opposite  and  is  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Gilbert  Sumner. 

Q.  When  and  where  was  the  first  railroad  in  Milton 
built? 
3SnmIto?yTf0"  A.  The  first  railroad  in  America  was  that  built  by  the 
p.0ii8.n,v'4'  Granite  Railway  Company  from  the  quarries  in  Quincy  to 
the  Neponset  river,  a  distance  of  about  three  and  one-half 
miles.  "  Work  was  commenced  the  first  day  of  April,  1826, 
and  on  the  seventh  day  of  October  following,  the  first  train 
of  cars  passed  over  the  whole  road." 

Q.     How  was  the  road  operated? 

A.  It  was  a  gravity  road,  the  cars  being  hauled  from 
the  landing  to  the  quarries  by  horses. 

Q.  What  was  the  reason  for  building  the  road  at  that 
time? 

A.  The  more  economical  transportation  of  granite  for 
the  construction  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument. 

Q.     When  was  East  Milton  given  railroad  facilities  ? 
Si'meto^™?"      A-     The  franchise  of  the  Granite  Railway  was  purchased 
Boston,  v.  4,     by  tlie  Q]d  Colony  Railroad  Company  in  1870,  and  a  modern 


31 

railroad  was  built  on  the  right  of  way.  This  was  formally 
opened  for  traffic  on  Oct.  9,  1871,  forty-five  years  and  two 
days  after  the  original  opening  in  1826. 

Q.     When  was  the  Granite  Bridge  turnpike  built? 

A.     In  1837  a  charter  was  granted  to  the  Granite  Bridge  Jfiiton T°^n 

&  »     Report,  1895, 

Company  to   build  a  turnpike   from    Adams    street  to  the15-44- 
Neponset  river,  and  to  build  a  bridge  over  said  river.     The 
road  or  turnpike,  not  proving  a  paying  investment,  was 
abandoned  by  the  corporation  in  1865.     The  same  year  the 
County  took  possession  of  said  turnpike  and  relocated  it. 

Q.     What  early  stage  routes  passed  through  Milton? 

A.     The  Plymouth  and  Taunton  stages. 

Q.     What  roads  did  they  follow? 

A.  The  Plymouth  stage  at  first  followed  Plymouth  road, 
came  through  Milton  village  and  over  Milton  Hill  to  Quincy 
and  beyond.  The  Taunton  stage  at  first  followed  the  same 
route  to  Canton  avenue  and  then  proceeded  by  way  of  Old 
Taunton  road  (Canton  avenue)  to  Canton  and  beyond. 

Q.  When  was  a  stage  coach  between  Milton  and  Boston 
established  ? 

A.     The  following  notice  is  from  Isaiah  Thomas's  Alman-  Thomas,  Mass., 

C>  Conn.,  R.I., 

ack  of   1799:    "Dorchester  and  Milton  stage  starts  every go?iAtaJS. 
day  from  Mayor  Forbe's  tavern  at  four  o'clock  afternoon, 
and  arrives  in  Boston  every  day  at  nine  o'clock  morning." 

In  the  Almanac  of  1801  under  "  Stage  Waggons  "  is  the 
following  notice  : 

"  Dorchester  and  Milton  Waggon  for  conveyance  of  goods 
starts  from  and  arrives  at  King's  tavern  every  day,  Sundays 
excepted." 

Q.  When  was  the  Dorchester  and  Milton  branch  of  the 
Old  Colony  Railroad  constructed  ? 

A.  In  1847,  with  stations  at  Milton  Lower  Mills  and 
Mattapan. 


32 

Q.  When  was  the  first  location  for  an  electric  car  line 
granted  ? 

A.  To  the  Quincy  and  Boston  Street  Railway  in  1895  in 
Willard  street,  East  Milton.  To  the  Milton  and  Brockton 
Street  Railway  a  franchise  was  granted  and  accepted  in 
1898.  The  latter  was  opened  for  travel  July  11,  1899. 
Both  roads  are  now  a  part  of  the  Old  Colony  Street  Rail- 
way System. 

Q.     What  other  electric  street  railway  was  built  later  ? 

A.  The  charter  of  the  Milton  Street  Railway  Company 
was  filed  and  recorded  March  26,  1903.  The  deed  of  the 
property  and  the  franchise  of  the  company  to  the  Blue  Hill 
Street  Railway  Company  wTas  dated  and  executed  Aug.  17, 
1903.  The  road  was  open  to  the  public  on  Sunday,  Aug. 
16,  1903. 

Q.  What  park  or  driveways  have  been  made  in  Milton 
in  recent  years  ? 

A.  April  24,  1896,  the  selectmen  voted  to  consent  to 
the  taking,  by  the  Metropolitan  Park  Commissioners,  of 
Mattapan  street,  parts  of  Blue  Hill  avenue  and  Canton 
avenue,  and  Harland  street,  for  the  Blue  Hill  parkway. 
July  2,  1897,  the  selectmen  concurred  in  taking  by  the 
Metropolitan  Park  Commissioners  of  some  seven  acres  of 
land  along  the  Neponset  river  near  Paul's  bridge,  through 
which  was  constructed  Neponset  River  parkway. 

G*    Slavery  in  Milton 
Q.     When  were  slaves   first  introduced  into  Massachu- 
setts ? 
Moor^History       ^#     xhe  earliest  records  of  slavery  in  Massachusetts  are 
at  the  time  of  the  Pequod  war  in  1637. 

Q.  When  was  slavery  first  recognized  in  Massachusetts 
law? 


Mass.,  p.  1. 


33 

A.     In  1641  the   first   code    of  laws  of  Massachusetts,  J^^^ 
known  as  the  Code  of  Fundamentals  or  Body  of  Liberties  of91, 
the  Massachusetts  Colony  in  New  England  recognized  the 
institution  of  slavery. 

Q.     Were  there  any  slaves  in  Milton? 

A.     Peter  Thacher,  the  first  minister  in  Milton,  owned  church  Records 

'  '  #     of  Peter 

one  Indian  woman,  also  a  negro  woman  sent  to  him  by  his  J^oi'juiy8' 
sister  from  Jamaica,  and  at  least  three  others  born  in  the  wuYof  Peter 
house.     In  1754  there  were  in  Milton  nineteen  negro  slaves  leC Population 
above    sixteen  years    of  age.     In    1765    there  were  forty- pnt.  2,ap.'208. ' 
seven  negroes  and  mulattoes,  but  possibly  some  of  these  census*  Making 

c  r  J  in  Mass. 

Were  free.  Appendix,  Cen- 

sus of  1765. 

Q.     Is  there  any  evidence  as  to  the  money  value  of  a 
slave  in  Milton? 

A.     In  1691,  Enoch  Badcock  of  Milton  bought  "a  Negro  win  of  Peter 

'  °  °        Thacher. 

Mann  named  Jack  of  ye  age  of  Twenty-eaight  Yeares     *°r  ^iSon  Se 
twenty- nine  pounds.     Peter  Thacher  valued  his  negro  girl  h^wII  o?' 
at  fifty-five  pounds  and  his  two  negro  boys  at  one  hundred  TeSe.Vstory 
and   twenty-one  pounds.     There   is  extant   also   a  receipt  p^6.ton' 
given  by  Elizabeth  Wadsworth  of  Milton,  June  7,  1747,  for 
the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  forty  pounds,  old  tenor,  for  a 
"negro   fello   abought  eighteen   years  of  age."     In  1761, 
"  servants  for  life  "  were  taxed  in  Milton  at  three  pounds 
each. 

Q.     How  were  these  slaves  employed? 

A.     As  household  servants. 

Q.     Was  any  effort  made  to  convert  them  to  Christianity  ? 

A.     Yes.     Part   of  the   upper   gallery  in   the  meeting-  S^mi 
house  was  reserved  for  their  use.     During  Peter  Thacher's  ^""Records 
ministry  alone    several  slaves  were  baptized  and  one  was  Thacher. 
received  into  the  full  communion  of  the  church. 

Q.     When  was  slavery  abolished  in  Massachusetts  ? 

A.     Slavery    was    never    formally    prohibited    by    the 


34 

legislature  of  Massachusetts,  but  the  Declaration  of  Rights 

in  the  State  Constitution  of  1780  contained  these  words  : 

Deane,  slavery  "All  men  are  born  free  and  equal,  and  have  certain  natural 

in  Mass.  * 

essential  and  inalienable  rights,  among  which  may  be 
reckoned  the  right  of  enjoying  and  defending  their  lives 
and  liberties."  This  declaration  was  not  apparently  intended 
at  the  time  as  a  prohibition  of  slavery,  but  it  fairly  repre- 
sented the  public  sentiment  of  the  community  and  was  soon 
used  as  the  basis  of  legal  decisions  by  which  revolted  slaves 
Moon .  slavery  were  liberated  from  their  masters.  In  the  United  States 
Census  of  1790  no  slaves  were  reported  in  Massachusetts. 

(Note  :  Several  documents  illustrative  of  slavery  in  Milton 
are  still  in  existence.  Mrs.  Frederick  Hamlin  has  a  receipt, 
a  bill  of  sale,  and  a  bill  of  lading  recording  transactions  in 
slaves  of  Enoch  Badcock.  The  wills  of  several  citizens  of 
Milton  include  slaves  in  their  inventory  of  property,  e.g., 
wills  of  Enoch  Badcock,  Samuel  Miller,  Peter  Thacher, 
Thomas  Swift,  and  John  Wadsworth.  The  Milton  Records 
also  record  several  slave  marriages.) 

H,    Milton  in  the  Wars 

Milton  in  the  Revolution 
Q.     What  is  the  first  record  of  dissatisfaction  in  Milton 
with  the  English  Government  of  the  Colonies? 
Teeie.ffiBtory       A.     A  mass  meeting  on  the  Church  Green,  just  before 

of  Milton,  »  v 

p-419-  the  Stamp  Act  was  to  take  effect,  is  recorded  Oct.  24,  1765. 

Q.     Who  was  the  most  prominent  citizen  of  Milton  at 

the  opening  of  the  Revolution? 

H!tSinsOTfeof     ^"     Thomas  Hutchinson,  the  last  civil  Governor  of  the 

p.  85.  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  of  which  he  was  also  the 

historian. 

Hosmer,  in  his  life  of  Hutchinson,  p.  85,  calls  his  "  His- 
tory of  Massachusetts  Bay  "  a  work  which  still  is  and  will 
always  remain  the  first  authority  respecting  the  beginnings 
of  New  England. 


37 
Tyler,  in  his  "  Literary  History  of  the  American  Revolu-  Ty^-  History 

*>  %i  j  0f  American 

tion,"  v.  2,  chap.  XXXIX.,  p.  395,  says:  " It  is  far  from ^e3v9°5\utlon» v- 2- 
being  a  reason  for  abating  anything  from  the  glory  due  to 
such  achievements  in  historical  literature  that  they  were  but 
the  recreation  and  by-play  of  a  most  laborious  man  of 
affairs,  who,  as  politician,  legislator,  and  magistrate,  was 
from  manhood  to  old  age  in  the  thick  of  nearly  all  impor- 
tant business  pertaining  to  the  interests  of  his  country  ;  who, 
prior  to  1765,  was  incomparably  the  most  popular  and  influ- 
ential statesman  in  New  England,  and  who,  from  the  year 
of  the  Stamp  Act  until  that  of  his  own  death  in  London, 
fifteen  years  afterwards,  was  the  most  powerful  American 
Statesman  in  the  ranks  of  the  Loyalist  Party." 

See  also  Mass.  Historical  Society  Proceedings,  v.  3, 
p.   147. 

For  his  financial  services  see  Hosmer  (Life  of  Hutchin- 
son) chap.  II.,  and  Tyler  (Literary  History  of  the  American 
Revolution),  v.  2,  p.  396.  The  latter  says:  "The  burn- 
ing question  in  politics  at  that  time  (1737)  was  public 
finance,  a  subject  on  which  Thomas  Hutchinson  was  prob- 
ably the  greatest  master  in  America  prior  to  Robert  Morris, 
Pelatiah  Webster,  and  Alexander  Hamilton." 

Q.     What  were  his  views  on  taxation  ? 

A.  In  his  "  Diary  and  Letters,"  v.  2,  p.  58,  he  wrote  :  "  I 
ever  thought  the  taxing  of  America  by  Parliament  not 
advisable,  but  as  a  servant  of  the  Crown,  I  thought  myself 
bound  to  discountenance  the  violent  opposition  made  to  the 
(Stamp)  Act,  as  it  led  to  the  denial  of  its  (Parliament's) 
authority  in  all  cases  whatsoever." 

Q.     What  connection  had  Milton  with  the  tea  ? 

A.     Two  of  the  Governor's  sons  were  consignees.     Fran- Hutchinson, 

Diary  and 

cis  Rotch,  owner  of  the  "Dartmouth,"  visited  the  Governor  Le}^rs» v-  *• 
at  Milton  on  the  evening  of  December  16  to  ask  for  a  per-  ^fe> pE;5^3# 


38 

mit  to  pass  the  Castle,  which  was  refused  as  the  vessel  was 

not  cleared. 

Q.     Why  did  Governor  Hutchinson  leave  America  ? 

KyanT'  A*     0n  May  13>  General  Gage  arrived  to  supersede  him 

Letters,  P.  is:.  for  t  time>  and  Qn  june  ^  17-^  Governor  Hutchinson  left 

his  dearly  loved  Milton  home,  and  shortly  after  sailed  with 

his  family  for  England,  hoping  by  personal  communication 

to  place  the  affairs  of  the  Colony  clearly  before  the  King. 

He   was  destined  never  to  succeed  and  died  in  exile   on 

May    15,    1779.     In  the  Diary  he  says,  alluding  to  those 

o/aJaSS17  who  did  not  wish  to  return  to  America :  "  I  have  more  of 

v.  2,°PU -to?.'      the  Athenian  in  me,  and  though  I  know  not  how  to  reason 

upon  it,  I  feel  a  fondness  to  lay  my  bones  in  my  native 

v-tpS8'   land."     John  Fiske  says  of  him:  "The   grand   old   Tory 

Governor  we  no  longer  scout  as  a  turn-coat  and  traitor,  but 

we  honor  him  for  the  conscientious  steadfastness  with  which 

he  pursued   a   policy    which   we   nevertheless   pronounced 

mistaken." 

Q.     What  memorable  event  occurred  shortly   after    his 
departure  ? 

JfeMmon8,tor>'       A'     0n  ^P1  9>  1774>  at  the  home  of  Daniel  Vose,  Gen. 

v' 425,  Joseph   Warren  presented  a  paper,  known  as  the  Suffolk 

Resolves.  On  October  28,  the  Governor  made  the  follow- 
ing entry  in  his  Journal :  "By  a  vessel  from  Philadelphia, 
advice  of  certain  resolves  of  a  Committee  of  Towns  in  the 

Tyier,  History  County  of  Suffolk,  which  had  been  adopted  by  the  Congress 

of  American  »  *  »  » 

?er°pU499'       a^  Philadelphia,  are  more  alarming  than  anything  which  has 

yet  been  done." 

Q.     What   connection   had   Milton   with   the    Battle    of 

Lexington  ? 
o^Muto?,81017       A-     Capt.  Ebenezer  Tucker  with  fifty-one  citizens  marched 
Tet??,'  History  to  intercept  the  enemy.     Muster  Rolls  of  Milton  during  the 
p!432.ton'         Revolution  under  the  following  officers,   Capt.  John  Brad- 


39 

ley,  Capt.  Daniel  Vose,  Capt.  Oliver  Vose,  Capt.  Josiah 
Vose,  Capt.  Joseph  Vose,  will  be  found  in  the  History  of 
Milton. 

Q.     When  did  the  town  declare  for  independence  ? 

A.     On  May  28,   1776,  it  was   voted   that   Mr.    Ralph  Tee  ^History 
Houghton,  Capt.  James  Boies  and  Dr.    Samuel    Gardiner p- 437- 
should  draw  up  instructions  for  the  representatives  of  the 
town  to  this  effect. 

Q,  What  part  did  the  town  take  in  connection  with  the 
fortification  of  Dorchester  Heights  ? 

A.     They  turned  out  en  masse,  and  supplied  fascines  cut  TfeM6iit?n8tory 
from  the  farm  of  Capt.  John  Homans.     For  an  account  of435'436, 438- 
Major   Vose's  raid  see  Teele,  History  of  Milton,  p.  435. 
For  Milton's  connection  with  the  Revolution  after  the  evac-    ■ 
uation  of  Boston,  see  History  of  Milton,  p.  438. 

Milton  in  the  War  of  1812 

Q.  Who  was  the  most  prominent  Milton  man  in  the 
War  of  1812? 

A.     Josiah  H.  Yose.     He  had  the  rank  of  captain  during  Teele,  Hiatory 

1  °  of  Milton,  p.  441. 

the  war,  and  was  in  active  service  at  Portsmouth,  Sackett's 
Harbor,  and  in  Canada.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
major  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

Q.  Did  Milton  have  any  other  representative  in  the 
regular  army? 

A.     Edwin  Vose  Sumner  entered  the  army  as  a  private  Boston  Evening 

^  Journal,  March 

during  the  war.     He  was  not  born  in  Milton,  but  as  he  was  ?,  i»6it  p.  4,  coi. 
©  7  i. 

educated  in  the  Milton  schools  and  came  of  an  old  Milton 
family  he  may  fairly  be  claimed  as  a  representative  of  the 
town. 

Q.  Did  Milton  citizens  take  part  in  the  war  as  volun- 
teers? 


40 

o^Mnton^PP*  ^-  There  were  companies  of  Milton  men  enrolled  and 
ready  for  service,  but  none  of  them  were  called  upon  to 
fight. 

Milton  in  the  Mexican  War 

Q.     How  many  Milton  men  took  part  in  the  war  with 
Mexico  ? 
fSSofthe*        A.     Two  men   from  Milton   took  part  in  the  campaign 
family.  which  ended  in  the  capture  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  both  of 

whom  later  achieved  a  remarkable  record  in  the  regular 
army.  Edward  Collins,  afterward  Colonel  Collins,  served 
on  the  Rio  Grande  in  the  company  of  sappers  and  miners. 
His  company  was  transferred  to  Mexico  under  General 
Scott.  He  was  present  at  the  capture  of  Vera  Cruz,  at  the 
battles  of  Cerro  Gordo,  Jalapa,  Perote,  Puebla,  Contreras, 
Valenca,  Churubusco,  Molino  del  Rev,  Chepultepec,  and  at 
the  capture  of  the  City  of  Mexico.  It  was  in  the  latter 
city,  Sept.  14,  1847,  that  he  received  his  first  promotion  as 
a  non-commissioned  officer  in  the  regulars.  Edwin  Vose 
Sumner,  afterward  General  Sumner,  went  to  Mexico  as 
cyclopaedia  of   Major  of  the  2d  Dragoons.     At  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo 

American  Biog-  J  ~ 

i83Dy,v'4,p'  he  led  a  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen  in  a  charge  that 
made  him  famous.  At  Contreras  and  Churubusco  he  was  in 
command  of  the  reserves,  and  at  Molino  del  Rey  his  men 
checked    the   attack    of    five    thousand    Mexican   lancers. 

Executive  Doc-  After  each  of  these  engagements  his  superior  officers  made 

uments,  No.  1,  o    o  i 

co^reee0  special  mention  in  their  official  reports  of  his  skill  and' 
jo0uraaifMeanrchg  courage.  During  the  war  he  received  promotion  and  two 
coi.i.  'p'  '     brevets  for  his  brilliant  conduct. 


43 


Milton  in  the  Civil  War 

Q.     What  measures  were  adopted  by  the  town  of  Milton 
on  the  news  of  the  outbreak  of  the  war  ? 

A.  Five  thousand  dollars  were  at  once  appropriated  to  Miiton  Town 
prepare  citizens  for  military  service  and  to  aid  the  support 
of  the  families  of  those  who  should  enter  the  public 
service.  It  was  voted  that  the  male  inhabitants  of  the 
town  not  enrolled  in  the  volunteer  company  be  expected  to 
form  a  Home  Brigade  as  a  reserve  force. 

Q.     How  much  money  was  expended  for  war  purposes  by 
the  town  from  1861-1865? 

A.       About  $27,761.  MiltonTown 

Report,  1866. 

Q.     How  many  men  were  furnished  by  Milton  for  the 
war? 

A.     Milton  furnished    about   two   hundred   and   eighty-  scnouier,  Mass. 

°      J     in  the  Civil 

seven  men,  which  was  a  surplus  of  twenty-five  over  and  War> v-  33<  p« 
above  all  demands.     Twenty  were  commissioned  officers. 

Q.     What  officers  from  Milton  were  brevetted  for  dis- 
tinguished service  as  volunteers  during  the  war  ? 

A.     Lieut. -Col.   A.    S.    Badger   was   brevetted   Colonel  mgginson, 
U.S.    Volunteers   "for    faithful    and   meritorious    services  Army  and  Navy, 

v.  2,  p.  504. 

during   the  campaign  against   the  city  of  Mobile  and   its 
defences." 

Capt.  Walter    S.    Davis    was    brevetted    Major   U.S.V.  Higginson, 

r  J  Mass.  in  the 

"for  gallant  service  at  the  battle  of  Jericho  Ford,  Va.,"£r™>pfnd0Navy> 
and  was  made  Lieut. -Col.  U.S.V.  by  brevet  "for  gallant 
services  at  the  battle  of  Peebles  Farm,  Va." 

Capt.  Abijah  Hollis  was  made  Major  U.S.V.  by  brevet  mgginson, 
"  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  in  the  assault  before  Army  and  Navy, 

°  v.  2,  p.  532. 

Petersburg,  Va." 

Q.     What    officer    from    Milton    received    the   greatest 
number  of  promotions  during  the  war? 


44 

MasflTthe  A-     Lieut.-Col.  William  H.  Forbes  :  Second  Lieutenant, 

f.Tpa2id3Navy' lst  Mass-  Cavalry,  Dec.   26,   1861;  First  Lieutenant,  July 
27,    1862;    Captain,    2d   Mass.  Cavalry,    Jan.    14,    1863; 
Major,  May  12,1863;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Oct.  21,1864. 
Q.     Xarne  some  officers  brevetted  for  distinguished  ser- 
vice, who  became  citizens  of  Milton  after  the  war. 
HigginBon  a.     Col.  Henry  S.  Russell  was  made  Brig. -Gen.  U.S.V. 

Mass.  in  the  *  © 

v.r2™pa554Navy'  °y  brevet  "  for  faithful  and  meritorious  services  during  the 
war,  and  particularly  for  distinguished  gallantry  and  good 
conduct  at  Baylor's  Farm  before  Petersburg,  Va.,  June  15, 

Higginson,        1864."     Lieut.-Col.    Robert   H.    Stevenson   was  brevetted 

Mass.  in  the 

;4:r2^a?5d8Navy* Colonel  U.S.V.  and  Brig.-Gen.  U.S.V.  "for  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  at  the  battle  of  Roanoke  Island  and 
Xew  Berne,  X.C.,  and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services 
during  the  war." 

Q.  What  services  were  rendered  in  the  war  by  Lieut. 
Huntington  Frothingham  Wolcott,  in  whose  honor  the 
Milton  post  of  the  G.A.R.  is  named? 

Teeie  History       A.     He   served    as    aid    to    Bricr.-Gen.     Gibbs    during 

of  Milton,  C  O 

pp.  454,455.  Sheridan's  campaign  south  of  Richmond,  and  was  especially 
commended  for  his  conduct  in  the  battles  of  Five  Forks, 
Dinwiddie  Court  House,  and  Clover  Hill.  Later  he  served 
in  North  Carolina  under  General  Sheridan  in  cooperation 
with  Sherman's  army. 

Q.     Who  was  the  first  man  to  go  to  the  war  from  Milton  ? 

3athe°siShtory     A-     Algernon   S.    Badger,  afterwards    Colonel   Badger, 

Regiment, P.ii9.was  in  the  6th  Regiment  Massachusetts  Infantry  (Militia), 
which  left  Boston  April  17,  1861. 

Q.  What  service  was  rendered  in  the  regular  army  by 
representatives  of  Milton  ? 

cyclopaedia  of        A.     Brig. -Gen.  Edwin  Vose  Sumner  was  put  in  charge 

American  c  r  o 

v.^fp^ss.'  of  the  first  corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  1862,  and 
commanded  the  left  wins:  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown.     He 


47 

was  engaged  in  all  the  battles  on  the    Chickahotniny  and  %$££$™f. 
won   special   distinction  at   the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,1892'?-'4'001^ 
when  his  corps  saved  General  McClellan's  left  wing  from 
rout.     General   McClellan   in  an  official  despatch  referred 
to   his    services    as  "  valuable  and  brilliant."     Mr.    James 
Ford  Rhodes,  the  historian,  says:  "General  Sumner  saved  Ixodes,  History 
the  day  at  Fair  Oaks."     He  was  brevetted  Major-General  v-4»p-25-  ' 
for  his  conduct  in  this  battle.     He  also  played  a  prominent  ^bt0hdeex|I!,8tory 
part  in  the  battles  of  Antietam  and  Fredericksburg.     After  m!vv'  ° '     ' 
the  latter  battle  he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Teeie,  History 
Department   of  the   West,   but   he   died   before   he   could  456Ml  ton' p' 
assume   his   duties.     Lieut. -Col.  Edward   Collins  and   ten  Teeie,  History 

-••-•i  i  •  i  of  Milton,  p. 

privates  from  Milton  also  served  in  the  regular  army.  464. 

Q.     How  many  Milton  men  died  in  the  war? 

A.     The   memorial  tablet  at  the  town   hall  records  the 
names  of  twenty-four  men. 

Q.     What  was  done  by  private  enterprise  in  Milton  to 
meet  the  demands  of  the  war  ? 

A.  Citizens  of  all  ages  and  conditions  contributed  ^epo^iX? 
freely.  A  recruiting  fund  was  raised  by  voluntary  sub- 
scription. Additional  bounties  were  paid  to  volunteers  by 
private  citizens.  Money  for  the  sanitary  commission  was 
raised  by  private  theatricals,  children's  fairs,  and  by 
numerous  contributions. 

Q.     What   notable    services   were   rendered   by   private 
individuals  during  the  war  ? 

A.     Mr.    John   M.  Forbes  served  as  a  special  commis-  Letters' aJndM'' 
sioner  to  England,  and  throughout  the  war  placed  his  time  RecollectiODB- 
and  his  business  sagacity  unreservedly  at  the  service  of  the 
state.     Capt.  Robert  B.  Forbes  organized  a  Coast  Guard  j^J^nces 
and  in  other  ways  labored  to  increase  the  naval  efficiency  0fpp-256"279- 
the  Government.     Mr.  Edward  L.  Pierce  in  his  work  for  Address^" 
the  freedmen  at  Fortress  Monroe  and  Port  Royal  and  in 


48 

reports  and  addresses  on  the  treatment  of  freedmen  materi- 
ally aided  their  cause. 

Q.     What  was  done  by  the  women  of  Milton  ? 

i£port,Ti865n         A.     The   Milton   branch    of    the    Sanitary   Commission 

made  generous  contributions  to  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers. 

Miss  Amelia  Russell  was  a  nurse  at  Fort  Schuyler.     Miss 

LettS^id1"    Emma  "Ware  was  nurse  in  charge  of  a  ward  in  the  Armory 

Recon£tion8,v.Square  Hospital  at  Washington.     Miss  Harriet  Ware  con- 

AddreUe's.  "  ducted  a  school  for  freedmen  at  Coffin  Point,  St.  Helena 
Island. 

Q.     What  noted  abolitionist  is  buried  in  Milton? 

A.  Wendell  Phillips,  the  noted  anti-slavery  orator, 
spent  several  summers  in  Milton  and  is  buried  in  Milton 
cemetery. 

Milton  in  the  Spanish  War 

Q.     What  men  from  Milton  enlisted  for  the  Spanish  War? 

A.  Harry  Berry,  Battery  K,  7th  U.S.  Heavy  Artillery, 
U.S. V.,  stationed  in  New  York  Harbor;  Winslow  Clark, 
1st  U.S.V.  Cavalry,  stationed  in  Cuba ;  James  W.  Dona- 
hue, 9th  Mass.  Infantry,  stationed  in  the  United  States  and 
Cuba ;  Charles  S.  Ford,  8th  Mass.  Infantry,  stationed  in 
the  United  States  and  Cuba ;  Frank  L.  Richards,  Battery 
K,  1st  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  U.S.V. ,  stationed  at  Fort 
Warren,  Boston  Harbor,  and  at  Fort  Stage,  Gloucester, 
Mass. ;  Roger  Wolcott,  Battery  A,  1st  Mass.  Heavy  Artil- 
lery, U.S.V.,  stationed  at  Fort  Warren,  Boston  Harbor,  at 
the  Mining  Case-mate,  Xahant,  at  Fort  Pickering,  Salem, 
and  at  the  State  Camping-ground  at  South  Framingham, 
Mass. 

Q.  Did  any  men  from  Milton  take  part  in  the  important 
engagements  of  the  war? 


c 


wheeier,  San.        a_     James  Donahue  served  as  a  Corporal  at  the  sie^e  of 

tiago  Campaign,  L  ° 

pp. 30, si.        Santiago.     Winslow  Clark  enlisted  in  the  "Rough  Riders" 


49 

as  a  private  in  C  Troop  in  San  Antonio,  just  before  the 
departure  for  Tampa,  May  29,  1898.  During  the  first 
engagement  of  the  troop  at  Las  Guasimas  he  acted  as 
Adjutant's  orderly.  In  the  famous  battle  of  San  Juan  he 
occupied  a  prominent  position  on  the  Major's  staff.  During 
that  battle  he  was  one  of  the  five  men  who  followed  Lieut. - 
Col.  Roosevelt  in  the  charge  on  the  second  hill.  He  was  seri- 
ously wounded  in  that  charge  and  lay  in  the  field  hospital 
until  July  13,  when  he  was  brought  back  to  New  York  on 
the  hospital  ship  "Relief."  For  his  conduct  in  the  battle  of 
San  Juan  he  was  officially  commended  for  "  great  gallantry  " 
by  Lieut. -Col.  Roosevelt  and  especially  commended  by  Maj.- 
Gen.  Wheeler  in  indorsement  of  the  report  of  Lieut. -Col. 
Roosevelt.  He  was  given  a  certificate  of  merit  by  the  War 
Department  in  recognition  of  his  services.  He  left  the 
service  with  the  rank  of  Sergeant,  but  in  August,  1899,  he 
was  given  a  commission  as  Lieutenant  in  the  11th  Cavalry, 
U.S.A.,  with  orders  for  the  Philippines.  This  commission 
he  declined  for  family  reasons. 

Q.  Were  any  women  from  Milton  in  the  service  of  the 
War  Department? 

A.  Miss  Josephine  Shepherd  was  an  army  nurse  in  the 
3d  Division  Hospital,  Panama  Park,  Florida,  and  in  the  2d 
Division  Hospital,  Havana,  Cuba. 

L    Government 
Q.     In  what  country  do  you  live  ? 
Q.     Why  do  you  love  your  country? 
Q.     What  is  a  patriot? 

A.     A  patriot  is  a  person  who  loves  his  country,  is  loyal 
to  its  best  interests,  and  gives  to  it  his  best  service. 
Q.     What  qualities  has  a  patriot? 
Q.     What  qualities  does  a  patriot  lack? 


50 

Q.     What  should  a  patriot  know? 

A.  A  patriot  should  know  the  history  of  his  country, 
its  form  of  government,  and  the  best  ways  of  making  it 
better,  safer,  and  stronger. 

Q.     What  is  a  flag? 

A.  A  flag  is  a  piece  of  cloth,  usually  bunting,  either 
plain  or  bearing  a  device,  and  is  commonly  used  to  stand  as 
an  emblem  of  nationality. 

Q.     What  is  the  design  of  the  flag  of  your  country? 

Q.  In  what  State  do  you  live?  In  what  county?  In 
what  town  ? 

Q.  What  kind  of  people  did  the  first  settlers  find  in 
Milton? 

A.     Indians. 

Q.     What  was  their  appearance  ? 

Q.     Of  what  town  was  Milton  once  a  part? 

A.     Of  the  town  of  Dorchester. 

Q.     Why  was  a  division  made? 

A.  Owing  to  the  meager  religious  privileges  enjoyed  by 
that  portion  of  Dorchester  lying  south  of  the  Neponset 
river,  the  town  for  many  years  prior  to  the  establishment 
of  the  town  of  Milton  granted  the  people  of  that  section 
liberty  to  maintain  their  own  ministry,  and  exempted  them 
from  paying  a  proportionate  part  of  the  salary  of  Mr. 
Mather.  This  consideration  and  the  fact  that  the  river  was 
a  barrier  between  the  more  numerous  residents  north  of  the 
Neponset  and  the  scattered  population  south  of  it,  which 
prevented  the  latter  from  receiving  the  full  benefits  and 
protection  of  the  central  government,  influenced  them  to 
seek  to  become  a  separate  town.  To  this  idea  Dorchester 
readily  assented,  and  Milton  was  set  off  as  a  town  by  itself. 

Q.     When  was  Milton  incorporated  as  a  separate  town? 


53 

A.     In  1662. 

Q.     Who  is  the  source  of  authority  at  home  ? 

A.     The  parents. 

Q.     Who  is  the  source  of  authority  in  school? 

A.     The  teacher. 

Q.     Why  are  rules  needed  in  school  ? 

Q.     What  is  the  meaning  of  the  word  government  ? 

A.  The  word  govern  comes  from  a  Latin  word  which 
means  to  steer,  pilot,  or  govern.  The  word  government 
means  the  act  of  steering,  piloting,  or  governing. 

Q.  Why  is  it  necessary  to  have  government  in  town, 
state,  and  country? 

A.  Government  is  necessary  to  regulate  the  conduct  of 
people,  to  protect  persons  and  property  against  the 
unscrupulous  and  the  dangerous,  to  preserve  order,  and  to 
promote  the  public  welfare. 

Q.  What  would  happen  if  people  were  allowed  to  do  as 
they  please  ? 

A.  There  would  be  uncertainty,  confusion,  and  injus- 
tice, and  the  people  would  in  time  become  savages. 

Q.     What  is  a  democracy? 

A.  A  democracy  is  a  form  of  government  in  which  the 
supreme  power  is  retained  and  directly  exercised  by  the 
people. 

Q.     What  is  a  republic? 

A.  A  republic  is  a  form  of  government  in  which  the 
people  rule  through  their  chosen  representatives. 

Q.  What  form  of  government  has  your  country  and 
State?     Your  town? 

Q.  How  are  representatives  to  State  and  national 
government  chosen? 

A.  Representatives  and  senators  to  the  State  legislature 
and  United  States  representatives  are  chosen  by  the  direct 


54 

vote  of  the  people  in  the  districts  which  they  are  to  repre- 
sent. United  States  senators  are  chosen  by  the  State 
legislature,  two  for  the  State. 

Q.  To  what  congressional  district  does  Milton  belong? 
To  what  senatorial  district?  To  what  representative 
district?     To  what  councillor  district? 

A.  Tenth  congressional  district.  First  Norfolk  sena- 
torial district.  Fourth  Norfolk  representative  district. 
Second  councillor  district. 

Q.  Who  is  now  President  of  the  United  States? 
Governor  of  the  State?  Congressman  of  your  district? 
Your  State  senator?  Your  representative  to  the  general 
court?     The  councillor  for  your  district? 

Q.     What  is  a  town  ? 

A.  A  town  is  a  corporate  body  occupying  a  definite 
portion  of  territory  and  exercising  local  jurisdiction  under 
the  control  of  the  State.  —  Martin. 

Q.     What  is  a  county  ?     A  State  ?     A  city  ? 

Q.     Could  Milton  be  a  city  ? 

Q.     What  two-fold  function  does  the  town  have  ? 

A.  To  manage  its  local  affairs,  and  to  act  as  the  servant 
of  the  State  in  the  enforcement  of  certain  State  laws  and 
the  carrying  on  of  certain  State  business. 

Q.  What  is  the  most  important  and  most  characteristic 
political  feature  of  a  Massachusetts  town? 

A.     The  town  meeting. 

Q.     What  business  is  done  at  town  meetings? 

A.     Town  meetings  are  held  for  the  following  purposes  : 

(a)  To  elect  town  officers  for  the  ensuing  year. 

(b)  To  elect  county,  State,  and  national  officials. 

(c)  To    discuss   general    town    affairs,    and    to 

consider  and   enact  administrative  meas- 
ures and  by-laws. 

(d)  To  appropriate  money  for  public  expenses. 


55 

Q.     Where  are  Milton  town  meetings  held? 

A.     In  the  town  hall. 

Q.     Where  were  they  held  in  early  days  ? 

A.  They  were  held  at  the  church,  which  was  called  a 
meeting-house. 

Q.  When  was  the  first  Milton  town  meeting  held,  and 
for  what  purpose? 

A.     In  1662  (?). 

Q.     How  often  are  town  meetings  held? 

A.     At  least  once  a  year,  and  oftener  if  necessary. 

Q.     When  is  the  annual  town  meeting  held? 

A.  It  is  held  upon  the  first  Monday  of  March  in  each 
year. 

Q.     How  many  town  meetings  did  Milton  hold  last  year? 

Q.     How  are  town  meetings  called? 

A.     Through  a  warrant  issued  by  the  selectmen. 

Q.     What  is  a  warrant? 

A.  A  warrant  is  a  document  issued  by  the  selectmen, 
directing  the  constables  of  the  town  to  notify  the  legal 
voters  of  a  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  town  hall  at  the  time 
specified  therein,  and  containing  a  statement  of  the  business 
for  which  the  meeting  is  called. 

Q.     How  does  the  constable  notify  the  voters  ? 

A.  By  posting  attested  copies  of  the  warrant  in  each  of 
the  post-offices  of  the  town  at  least  fourteen  days,  and  by 
leaving  printed  copies  thereof  at  the  dwelling-houses  in  the 
town  at  least  four  days  before  the  day  of  such  meeting. 

Q.     What  is  the  warrant  committee  ? 

A.  A  committee  composed  of  fifteen  legal  voters  of  the 
town. 

Q.     By  whom  is  it  appointed? 

A.  It  is  appointed  by  the  moderator  of  the  town 
meeting. 


56 

Q.     What  are  its  duties  ? 

A.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  warrant  committee  to  inform 
itself  concerning  those  affairs  and  interests  of  the  town, 
the  subject  matter  of  which  is  generally  included  in  the 
warrants  for  the  town  meetings,  and  to  report  in  print 
before  all  such  town  meetings  its  estimates  and  recom- 
mendations for  the  action  of  the  town. 

Q.     Where  and  how  often  does  it  meet? 

A.  The  warrant  committee  meets  within  two  weeks  after 
its  appointment  for  organization,  and  as  often  after  that  as 
may  be  necessary. 

Q.     What  part  does  it  take  in  the  town  meeting? 

A.  In  addition  to  its  printed  report  the  chairman  of  the 
committee  may  give  reasons  for  its  recommendations  on  any 
matter  before  the  meeting. 

Q.  What  steps  does  a  citizen  take  to  have  any  particular 
item  of  business  introduced  into  the  warrant? 

A.  He  must  present  his  article  to  the  selectmen,  signed 
by  at  least  ten  legal  voters  of  the  town. 

Q.     Who  presides  at  a  town  meeting? 

A.     The  moderator. 

Q.     Who  elects  him? 

A.     The  voters  of  the  town. 

Q.     Who  can  vote  at  town  meetings  ? 

A.  A  voter  must  be  a  man  twenty-one  years  old  or  over, 
who  has  resided  in  the  State  at  least  one  year,  and  in  the 
town  at  least  six  months,  who  is  registered,  and  who  is  not 
a  pauper  (unless  an  honorably  discharged  United  States 
soldier  or  sailor),  nor  a  person  under  guardianship,  and 
who  can  read  the  State  constitution  and  sign  his  name.  A 
woman  citizen  may  vote  for  members  of  the  school  com- 
mittee. 

Q.     What  is  a  naturalized  voter? 


rJ 


59 

Q.     What  name  is  ffiven  to  the  laws  which  a  town  makes? 
A 

Q 

A 

Q 

A 

Q 

A 


Town  by-laws. 
How  are  these  laws  made? 

They  are  made  by  the  voters  at  town  meetings. 
What  are  laws  ? 
Laws  are  rules  of  action. 
For  what  are  laws  made  ? 

Laws  are  made  for  the  guidance  of  individuals  in 
their  relations  to  one  another  and  to  the  government,  and 
to  promote  the  public  good. 

Q.     What   town    officers  are  elected  in   Milton  and  for 
how  long  a  time  is  each  elected  ? 

A.      (a)     Three    selectmen  and  surveyors  of  highways, 
elected  for  one  year. 

(b)  One  town  clerk,  elected  for  one  year. 

(c)  Three  assessors,  elected  for  one  year. 

(d)  One  town  treasurer,  elected  for  one  year. 

(e)  Six  members  of  the  school  committee,  elected 

for  three  years. 

(f)  One  collector  of  taxes,  elected  for  one  year. 

(g)  Two  auditors,  elected  for  one  year. 

(h)    Three  park   commissioners,  elected   for   three 

years. 
(i)     Three   sewer  commissioners,  elected  for  three 

years. 
(j)     Three   water  commissioners,  elected  for  three 

years, 
(k)    Three  members  of  the  board  of  health,  elected 

for  three  years. 
(1)     Twelve  constables,  elected  for  one  year, 
(m)   Nine  trustees  of  the  public  library,  elected  for 

three  years, 
(n)     Five  trustees  of  the  cemetery,  elected  for  five 

years. 


60 

(o)     Five  overseers  of  the  poor,  elected  for  three 

years, 
(p)    One  tree  warden,  elected  for  one  year, 
(q)    Two  fence  viewers,  elected  for  one  year, 
(r)     Two  surveyors  of  lumber,  elected  for  one  year. 
(s)     One  poundkeeper,  elected  for  one  year. 
Q.     By  what  system  are  they  elected? 
A.     All  are  elected  by  ballot  with  the  exception  of  the 
tree   warden,    fence  viewers,     surveyors    of    lumber,    and 
poundkeeper,  who  are  chosen  viva  voce  (by  word  of  mouth). 
Q.     Who   receive    salaries?     What   compensation    have 
the  others? 

Q.     Who  are  the  chief  executive  officers  of  the  town? 

A.     The  selectmen. 

Q.     What  are  their  principal  duties  ? 

A.     Their  principal  duties  are  : 

(a)  To  issue  warrants  for  town  meetings. 

(b)  To  preside    at   meetings  for  the  election  of 

State  and  national  officers. 

(c)  To  lay  out  highways. 

(d)  To  grant  licenses. 

(e)  To  prepare  the  jury  lists,  and  to  draw  the 

jurors. 

(f)  To    have    the    general    supervision   of    the 

streets     and     police      departments,    and 
appoint  officers  for  the  same. 

(g)  To   appoint   various    other   officers   for   the 

welfare  of  the  town. 
Q.     What  are  the  principal  duties  of  the  town  clerk? 
A.     His  principal  duties  are  : 

(a)  To  record  the  votes  in  town  meetings. 

(b)  To  administer  the  oath  of  office  to  the  other 

elected  town  officers. 


61 

(c)  To  record   votes    for    national,    State    and 

county    officers,  -and     to     make     proper 
returns  of  the  same. 

(d)  To  keep  a  record  of  births,  marriages,  and 

deaths. 

(e)  To  issue  marriage  certificates. 

(f)  To  issue  dog  licenses,  and  hunters'  licenses. 

(g)  To   record  mortgages  of  personal  property 

and  assignments  of  wages. 
Q.     What  are  the  principal  duties  of  the  assessors  ? 
A.     Their  principal  duties  are  : 

(a)  To  determine  the  valuation  of  property,  real 

and  personal,  and  to  levy  taxes  thereon. 

(b)  To  determine  the  rate  of  taxation  sufficient 

to   raise  the   amount   voted  by  the  town 
meeting. 

(c)  To  make  a  list  of  the  poll  tax  payers. 

Q.  (a)  What  are  the  duties  of  the  tax  collector?  (b) 
Of  the  treasurer?     (c)   Of  the  auditors? 

A.  (a)  To  collect  the  taxes,  (b)  To  receive  the  taxes 
from  the  collector,  take  charge  of  all  money  belonging  to 
the  town,  and  to  pay  it  out  upon  the  order  of  the  selectmen 
or  other  proper  officers,  (c)  To  examine  the  town 
accounts  and  the  accounts  of  all  officers  or  committees 
handling  public  funds,  and  to  report  annually  to  the  town. 

Q.     What  are  the  duties  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor? 

A.     Their  chief  duties  are  : 

(a)  To  care  for  the  poor  and  needy  of  the  town. 

(b)  To    have    charge    of  the    town   farm,    and 

employ  a  superintendent  for  the  same. 

(c)  To  represent  the  town  in  its  dealings  with 

other  towns  in  matters  pertaining  to  the 
support  of  paupers. 


62 

Q.     What  are  the  duties  of  the  school  committee? 

A.  The  school  committee  have  entire  charge  of  the 
schools. 

Q.  What  are  the  duties  of  the  trustees  of  the  public 
library? 

A.  The  trustees  of  the  public  library  administer  the 
affairs  of  the  public  library. 

Q.  In  whom  are  the  sole  care,  superintendence,  manage- 
ment, and  control  of  the  cemetery  invested? 

A.     The  trustees  of  the  cemetery. 

Q.     What  are  the  duties  of  the  board  of  health  ? 

A.  The  board  of  health  prescribe  regulations  to  prevent 
the  spread  of  contagious  diseases,  see  that  they  are 
enforced,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be  neces- 
sary to  safeguard  the  public  health. 

Q.  What  are  the  duties  of  the  other  officers  elected  at 
town  meetings? 

Q.  What  officers  are  appointed  by  the  selectmen,  and 
for  how  long? 

Q.     Why  are  they  appointed,  and  not  elected? 

Q.     What  are  their  chief  duties? 

Q.     What  qualities  should  every  town  officer  have? 

A.  Necessary  knowledge  of  the  requirements  of  the 
office  for  which  he  is  chosen,  good  judgment,  tact,  and 
honesty  of  purpose  and  act. 

Q.  Why  must  he  be  careful  in  the  expenditure  of 
money  ? 

A.  In  order  that  the  money  may  be  spent  to  the  best 
advantage  of  the  town,  and  that  the  town  may  receive  full 
value  for  every  dollar  expended. 

Q.     What  is  graft? 

Q.  Upon  what  does  the  welfare  of  our  government 
depend? 

Q.     What  possible  dangers  may  it  have  to  meet? 


65 

Q.     For  what  object  does  the  town  spend  money? 

Q.  Who  decides  how  much  money  shall  be  raised  for 
town  expenses? 

A.     The  voters  in  town  meeting  assembled. 

Q.  Who  helps  the  voters  to  decide  intelligently  how 
much  money  is  needed  for  each  department? 

A.     The  town  officials  and  the  warrant  committee. 

Q.  What  was  the  total  sum  raised  by  the  town  last 
year  ? 

Q.     How  does  the  town  obtain  the  money  thus  raised? 

Q.     How  are  town  taxes  apportioned  and  how  paid  ? 

Q.     What  is  the  present  rate  of  taxation  ? 

Q.     Has  the  rate  increased  or  decreased  with  recent  years  ? 

Q.  How  do  the  expenses  of  Milton  compare  with  those 
of  ten  years  ago  ?     Twenty  years  ago  ?     Fifty  years  ago  ? 

Q.     What  share  of  the  county  expenses  is  borne  by  Milton  ? 

A.     About  one-tenth. 

Q.  How  does  the  county  collect  its  taxes  ?  The  State  ? 
The  country? 

Q.     What  is  the  amount  of  the  town's  debt? 

Q,     How  does  the  town  borrow  money? 

A.  By  giving  promissory  notes  for  the  money  borrowed 
in  behalf  of  the  town,  the  same  to  be  signed  by  the  treas- 
urer and  countersigned  by  a  majority  of  the  selectmen,  or 
by  issuing  bonds  for  the  amount  borrowed. 

Q.     What  does  it  mean  to  bond  the  town? 

A.  To  borrow  money  and  issue  certificates  of  indebted- 
ness which  bear  interest  for  the  amount. 

Q.     For  how  long  a  time  may  these  bonds  run  ? 

A.     For  the  length  of  time  for  which  they  are  issued. 

Q.     Of  what  value  are  good  schools  ? 

Q.     What  can  you  do  to  make  the  schools  good? 

Q.     What  are  the  advantages  of  a  good  public  library? 


66 

Q.     What  did  the  Indians  have  instead  of  roads  ? 

Q.     Why  can  we  not  get  along  with  paths  to-day  ? 

Q.     Of  what  advantage  are  good  roads  to  a  town  ? 

Q.  How  can  you  help  to  make  the  streets  clean  and 
attractive  ? 

Q.  Why  are  parks  and  playgrounds  important?  Gym- 
nasiums ? 

Q.  What  can  you  find  out  about  the  parks,  playgrounds, 
and  gymnasiums  of  Milton? 

Q.     What  is  the  work  of  the  fire  department? 

Q.     How  can  you  help  to  make  your  town  safe  from  fire  ? 

Q.     What  are  the  duties  of  the  police  department  ? 

Q.  What  is  being  done  in  this  town  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  contagious  diseases? 

Q.  Why  is  spitting  prohibited  on  the  floor  of  cars  and 
public  buildings,  and  sidewalks  ? 

Q.     In  what  things  should  a  town  try  to  excel? 

Q.     In  what  things  does  your  town  excel  ? 

Q.  Can  boys  and  girls  prove  themselves  good  citizens  ? 
How? 

Q.     What  are  the  dangers  that  menace  town  government  ? 

Q.     What  is  civil  service  reform? 

Q.     What  are  "  machine  politics  "  ? 

Q.  What  are  the  advantages  of  non-partisan  government 
in  a  town? 

J.    Milton  Churches 

Q.  How  many  meeting-houses  built  by  the  town  has 
Milton  had? 

A.     Four. 

Q.     Where  did  the  first  meeting-house  stand? 

A.  On  Adams  street  opposite  or  near  the  entrance  to 
Churchill's  lane. 


69 

Q.     When  was  this  meeting-house  built? 

A.     As  early  as  1660  and  perhaps  earlier. 

Q.     How  large  was  it? 

A.  Probably  seventeen  feet  long  by  twenty  wide  and 
built  of  logs.     It  had  a  thatched  roof. 

Q.     When  was  the  second  meeting-house  built? 

A.     In  1672. 

Q.     Where  did  it  stand? 

A.     On  the  corner  of  Centre  street  and  Yose's  lane. 

Q.     What  was  its  general  appearance? 

A.  It  was  a  small  building,  nearly  square,  with  a  gallery 
on  one  side,  pulpit  on  the  other,  and  entrance  on  the  town- 
way,  now  Centre  street. 

Q.     When  was  the  third  meeting-house  built? 

A.     In  1728. 

Q.     Where  did  it  stand? 

A.  A  little  to  the  east  and  to  the  south  of  the  present 
meeting-house  of  the  First  Congregational  parish. 

Q.     When  was  the  fourth  meeting-house  built? 

A.     Begun  May  1,  1787,  dedicated  Jan.  1,  1788. 

Q.     Is  it  still  standing? 

A.  It  is.  It  is  the  meeting-house  now  occupied  by  the 
First  Congregational  parish  at  the  Centre. 

Q.  What  changes  have  been  made  in  the  external  appear- 
ance of  this  meeting-house  ? 

A.  Originally  the  steeple  end  faced  the  west,  the  front 
entrance  being  on  the  south  side.  There  was  no  clock  in 
the  steeple. 

Q.     Who  was  the  first  settled  minister  of  Milton  ? 

A.     The  Rev.  Peter  Thacher. 

Q.     How  long  was  his  pastorate? 

A.     Forty-seven  years. 

Q.     Were^ there  preachers  in  Milton  before  Peter  Thacher  ? 


70 

A.  Yes,  four  or  five,  but  none  of  them  was  settled  and 
none  of  them  remained  for  any  length  of  time. 

Q.  When  was  Peter  Thacher  ordained  and  settled  in 
Milton? 

A.     May  18,  1681. 

Q.     How  was  the  church  in  Milton  originally  supported? 

A.  As  elsewhere  throughout  New  England.  The  town 
and  the  parish  were  one  organization.  Taxes  were  col- 
lected for  the  support  of  the  town  and  for  the  support  of  the 
parish.  Every  citizen  was  obliged  to  pay  for  the  support 
of  the  one  church  to  which  all  the  citizens  were  expected  to 
belong. 

Q.     When  were  the  town  and  the  parish  separated  ? 

Q.     How  was  this  separation  brought  about? 

Q.  How  were  religious  services  supported  after  this 
separation  ? 

A.  By  voluntary  contributions.  Citizens  were  no 
longer  taxed  by  the  town  for  the  support  of  public  worship. 

Q.  What  did  this  separation  of  town  and  parish 
natural^  result  in  ? 

A.     The  formation  of  other  church  organizations. 

K.    Milton  Industries 
Q.     Was   the   location    of  Milton   favorable  for   manu- 
facturing ? 


Teele,  History  A  Vaa 

of  Milton,  p.  357.        JXm        ies' 


Q.     Why? 

A.  The  natural  advantages  of  the  Xeponset  river  led 
the  early  adventurers  to  settle  in  its  near  vicinity. 

Q.     What  were  some  of  these  advantages? 

A.  The  water  power  at  the  head  of  navigation,  and  the 
rapids  above. 

Q.     When  was  the  first  grist  mill  erected  and  where  ? 


71 

A.  In  1633  by  Israel  Stoughton  on  the  place  above  the 
bridge  on  the  Dorchester  side  where  the  stone  mill  of 
Walter  Baker  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  lately  stood. 

Q.     Why  do  you  call  this  a  Milton  industry? 

A.     When  Milton  was  set  off  from  Dorchester  in  1662%}?' History 

of  Milton,  p.  368. 

the  grist  mill  was  assigned  to  Milton  as  its  taxable  property. 

Q.     Should  Milton  value  this  property  ? 

A.  Yes,  for  in  the  autumn  of  1634  the  waters  of  the 
Neponset  turned  the  first  wheel  ever  set  up  on  its  shores, 
and  ground  the  first  corn  ever  ground  by  water  power  in 
New  England. 

Q.  Mention  another  industry  of  great  importance  to  the 
colony. 

A.     Manufacturing  powder. 

Q.     When  was  the  first  powder  mill  erected? 

A.  In  1675  a  partnership  was  formed  and  the  first 
powder  mill  in  the  country  erected. 

Q.     Where  was  it  located? 

A.  The  site  of  the  mill  is  just  above  the  bridge  in 
Milton,  on  land  now  the  property  of  Walter  Baker  &  Co.,  Ltd. 

Q.     How  long  was  this  business  carried  on  ? 

A.     Until  1744,  when  the  original  mill  blew  up.  ofeSffiton!p.0868 

Q.     Was  paper  manufactured  here ?  SMS*6' 

A.     Yes,  a  company  was  formed  in  1728  for  that  pur-ponset' 
pose. 

Q.     Where  was  this  mill  located? 

A.  On  the  Neponset  river  below  the  bridge  at  Milton. 
Believed  to  be  the  first  paper  mill  in  the  country. 

Q.  Mention  an  interesting  fact  connected  with  the 
making  of  paper  in  this  mill. 

A.     In  1803  Mr.  Sanderson  manufactured  for  the  Boston  T/?Jf/4 Hi8tojL 

of  Milton,  p.  372. 

Custom  House  the  first  folio-post  and  quarto  letter  paper 
ever  made  in  New  England. 


72 

Q.     How  long  was  paper  made  in  this  mill  ? 

A.  Until  1817,  when  a  new  mill  was  built  just  below  the 
old  one. 

Q.     Were  these  the  only  paper  mills  in  Milton? 

A.  No,  in  1765  the  same  business  was  started  in  a  new 
mill  at  Mattapan  by  James  Boies  and  Richard  Clark. 

Q.     Was  the  business  a  success? 

A.  Yes,  although  the  early  mills  were  forced  to  stop 
work  occasionally  for  want  of  skilled  workmen,  being 
largely  dependent  on  English  artisans. 

Q.     Is  paper  made  in  Milton  at  the  present  time  ? 

Q.     AVhen  was  chocolate  first  manufactured  in  Milton? 

A.  In  1765  John  Hannan  manufactured  the  first  choco- 
late made  in  the  British  provinces  of  North  America. 

Q.     Where  was  the  mill  located? 

A.     On  the  site  of  the  old  powder  mill. 

Q.     Who  built  the  mill? 

A.  It  was  built  in  1765  by  Edward  Wentworth  and 
Henry  Stone  as  a  saw  and  chocolate  mill. 

Q.     Was  this  mill  ever  used  for  other  purposes? 

A.  Yes,  for  grinding  and  pulverizing  drugs,  medicines, 
and  dye  stuffs,  also  for  sawing  veneers,  the  first  manu- 
factured in  America  except  by  hand-power. 

Q.     Was  chocolate  made  in  other  mills  in  Milton? 

A.  Yes,  in  1772  Dr.  James  Baker  hired  part  of  the 
paper-mill  below  the  Milton  bridge  and  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  chocolate. 

Q.     How  long  was  the  business  located  here? 

A.  It  was  carried  on  by  Dr.  Baker  and  his  son  Edmund 
Baker  until  1804,  when  it  was  removed  to  the  mill  built  in 
1765,  on  the  site  of  the  powder  mill. 

Q.     What  became  of  the  old  paper  mill? 


mi  ii wm 


¥ r- 


>  ~V=A-=A 


75 

A.  It  was  torn  down  about  1840  and  on  its  site  a  new 
one  built,  finished  for  a  grist  and  chocolate  mill. 

Q.     Who  manufactured  chocolate  here? 

A.  In  1843  Josiah  Webb  and  Josiah  F.  Twombly  took 
possession  of  it,  but  in  1850  removed  to  the  new  mill  on 
the  opposite  side  of  Adams  street. 

Q.     When  was  this  mill  built? 

A.  In  1850,  when  the  old  mill  built  on  the  site  of  the 
powder  mill  was  removed. 

Q.     Who  occupied  the  mill  later? 

A.  It  was  sold  to  Henry  L.  Pierce  in  1881,  who 
improved  a  part  of  it  and  in  1884  removed  the  remainder 
and  erected  a  new  building.  It  is  now  the  property  of  the 
Walter  Baker  &  Co.,  Ltd^ 

Q.     Was  there  any  mill  for  the  working  of  iron? 

A.  Yes,  in  1710  Mr.  Jonathan  Jackson  erected  a  slitting 
mill,  which  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  province. 

Q.     Where  was  it  located? 

A.     On  the  Neponset  at  Mattapan. 

Q.     Was  the  business  long  continued? 

A.  The  mill  was  burned  after  a  few  years,  but  in  1769 
it  was  repaired  or  a  new  mill  erected  and  business  resumed. 

Q.  Mention  other  manufactures  not  requiring  water 
power. 

A.  The  first  bass-viols  and  the  first  piano-forte  made  in 
this  country  were  made  in  Milton. 

Q.     By  whom  were  they  made  and  when? 

A.     By  Benjamin  Crehore  about  1800. 

Q.  Is  there  any  piano  made  at  the  present  time  as  the 
direct  result  of  this  early  industry? 

A.     Yes,  the  Chickering  piano. 

Q.     Give  a  brief  account  of  it.  SC&. 

Q.     Mention  still  another  industry. 


76 

A.     Cracker  making. 
Q.     What  noted  crackers  are  made  here? 
A.     Bent's  water  crackers. 
Q.     When  were  they  first  made  and  where? 
A.     In  1801  with  a  single  oven  in  the  dwelling-house  of 
Josiah  Bent  on  Highland  street. 
Q.     Where  are  they  now  made  ? 

Q.  What  other  industries  were  carried  on  in  connection 
with  the  Neponset  river? 

A.     Ship-building  and  fisheries. 
Q.     Where  were  the  ship-yards  located? 
A.     At  or  near  the  first  landing  place,  now  called  Gulli- 
ver's Creek,  as  early  as  1640  and  at  the  second  landing  place 
about  1690. 

Q.     Where  was  the  second  landing  place? 
A.     About  midway  between  the  first  landing  place  and 
Milton  bridge. 

Q.     How  large  were  the  vessels  that  were  built? 
A.     Shallops  of  thirty  or  forty  tons    burden  and    also 
much  larger  vessels. 
?feMnt<S9tory       Q*     Who  were  some  of  the  ship-builders? 
pp.  383, 384.  q      What  is  the  first  record  we  have  of  the  fish  industry  ? 

A.     In  1634  Israel  Stoughton  had  liberty  granted  him  to 
build  a  mill,  weir  and  bridge  over  the  Neponset  and  sell 
alewives,  which  he  took  there  at  five  shillings  per  thousand. 
Q.     Was  this  a  profitable  industry? 

A.  Yes,  in  early  times  the  river  was  full  of  fish  of 
various  kinds  and  afforded  a  large  revenue  to  the  early 
settlers. 

Q.     How  were  they  taken  ? 
orcutt,  Good        A.     At   high  water  a  net   used   to  be    stretched   across 

Old  Dorchester,  » 

p.  144.  Gulliver's  and  Sagamore  Creeks,  and  as  the  tide  went  out 

bass  were  taken  in  dip  nets  in  sufficient  quantities  often  to 
fill  a  boat. 


77 
Q.     How  many  in  numbers  were  sometimes  taken? 

A.        From  tWO  tO  Six  thousand.  Pierce's  Diary. 

Q.     Mention  other  early  industries. 

A.     The  tanning  business  and  wool  and  leather  dressing. 

Q.     How  early  and  where  do  we  first  know  of  tanning? 

A.  It  was  first  undertaken  before  the  incorporation  of 
the  town,  by  the  Pitcher  family,  in  the  valley  opposite  the 
Unitarian  Church  on  Canton  avenue. 

Q.  In  what  other  parts  of  the  town  has  the  business 
been  carried  on  ? 

A.  On  Bobbins  street  near  Pine  Tree  brook  by  Eben- 
ezer  Tucker ;  in  New  State  near  Pleasant  street  by  the 
Badcocks  ;  at  East  Milton  by  the  Adamses  and  on  Canton 
avenue  by  Major  Babcock. 

Q.     Where  was  leather  dressing  carried  on  ? 

A.  In  1709  at  Mattapan ;  near  the  close  of  the  century 
on  Canton  avenue  opposite  the  Wainwright  mansion  and 
later  at  the  landing  place  in  Milton. 

Q.     Where  was  wool  pulling  first  carried  on? 

A.  On  Canton  avenue  and  in  the  rear  of  Mr.  Buggies' 
house. 

Q.     Who  carried  on  the  business  ? 

A.     Mr.  Caleb  Hobart. 

Q.     Was  this  his  original  business? 

A.     No,  he  was  a  butcher,  mostly  in  the  mutton  trade. 

Q.     What  led  him  to  adopt  the  wool  business? 

A.  In  the  War  of  1812  wool  rose  to  such  a  price  that 
the  wool  of  a  single  skin  would  often  pay  for  the  whole 
animal. 

Q.     Where  else  was  the  business  carried  on? 

A.  At  the  landing  place  by  Gen.  Whitney  and  Jabez 
Sumner  and  at  the  junction  of  Brook  road  and  Canton 
avenue  by  William  Davis. 


78 

Q.     Is  there  any  record  of  the  extent  of  the  business? 
Dorchester  A.     An  old  record  of  1850  says  "  the  number  of  pelts 

and  Milton  J  x 

Aimauack,  1850.  from  which  the  wool  is  annually  taken  is  nearly  or  quite 
250,000." 

Q.  What  industry  was  the  means  of  building  up  the 
east  part  of  Milton? 

A.     Stone  catting. 

Q.     Were  the  quarries  in  Milton? 

A.  The  principal  ones  were  in  Quincy,  but  for  the  first 
thirty  years  practically  all  of  the  cutting  was  done  in  Milton. 

Q.     Where  were  the  sheds  located  ? 

A.  At  the  head  of  the  wharf  on  the  Neponset  river, 
and  also  a  few  rods  north  of  the  Quincy  line  opposite  the 
junction  of  Mechanic  and  Willard  streets. 

Q.     What  important  work  was  early  done? 

A.  Preparing  the  granite  blocks  for  the  building  of 
Bunker  Hill  Monument  and  the  Custom  House  in  Boston. 

Q.     Who  was  the  builder  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument? 

A.  Charles  Gardner  of  Milton.  His  sons  still  have  the 
plans. 

Q.  Was  there  any  important  enterprise  in  connection 
with  building  the  monument? 

A.  It  was  the  means  of  building  the  first  railway  in  the 
United  States. 

Q.     When  was  it  built? 

A.     In  1826. 

Q.     How  long  was  it  and  where  located? 

A.  Three  and  one-half  miles  long,  from  the  quarry  in 
Quincy  to  the  Neponset  river. 

Q.     Is  it  in  existence  to-day  ? 

A.  A  portion  of  the  roadbed  near  Squantum  street  is 
marked  by  a  stone. 

Q.     What  was  the  cost  of  the  road  ? 

A.     Upwards  of  $30,000. 


81 


L.    Miscellaneous 

Q.     What  are  the  chief  industries  in  Milton  to-day? 

A.  The  manufacture  of  chocolate,  of  crackers,  and  of 
paper,  and  the  quarrying  of  granite. 

Q.     What  are  the  chief  attractions  of  Milton  ? 

A.  Its  natural  beauty,  its  proximity  to  the  Blue  Hill 
Reservation,  its  parks,  its  good  schools,  both  public 
and  private,  its  public  library,  which  is  one  of  the  best  in 
the  State,  and  its  intelligent  government. 

Q.  How  does  the  town  compare  with  other  towns  in 
wealth  ? 

A.     It  is  the  second  richest  in  the  State. 

Q.     What  is  the  tax  rate? 

A.     $11.90  in  1910. 

Q.  What  notable  public  bequests  have  been  made  to 
Milton? 

A.  Bequests  and  gifts  have  been  made  by  many  persons 
for  various  specific  purposes,  but  the  greatest  gift  of  all  was 
the  property  left  by  the  late  Mrs.  Francis  Cunningham  in 
trust  for  the  benefit  of  the  town.  This  bequest  amounted 
to  more  than  $600,000,  with  which  at  the  present  time  the 
trustees  are  maintaining  the  Cunningham  Park.  This  is 
equipped  with  a  skating  rink,  a  toboggan  coast,  an  excellent 
gymnasium,  athletic  fields  and  tennis  courts.  A  competent 
director  is  in  charge. 

Q.     What  organizations  and  clubs  are  there  in  Milton? 

A.  Milton  Historical  Society,  The  Milton  Woman's 
Club,  Milton  Club,  Hoosick-Whisick  Club,  Milton  Education 
Society,  the  Free  Masons,  the  Thursday  Evening  Club,  the 
Central  Avenue  Improvement  Association,  Grand  Army 
Post  No.  102,  Woman's  Relief  Corps  147,  Sons  of  Veterans 
No.  74,  Shawmut  Council,  R.A.,  Business  Men's  Associa- 
tion, Social  Service  League,  Kidder  House  Association. 


82 

Q.     Are  there  any  regular  publications? 

A.     The  "  Milton  Record"  is  a  weekly  newspaper. 

Q.     What  distinction  has  Milton  acquired  in  art? 

A.  A  great  deal,  —  through  George  Hollingsworth 
(1813-1882),  instructor  in  art  in  the  Lowell  Institute 
Drawing  School;  Wm.  M.  Hunt  (1824-1879),  and  Thomas 
H.  Hinckley  (1813-189()),  painters;  Dr.  William  Rimmer 
(1816-1879),  sculptor;  Hammatt  Billings  (1818-1874), 
architect  and  designer  of  monuments,  and  William  Robert 
Ware,  Professor  of  Architecture  and  one  of  seven  judges 
of  the  competitive  plans  for  the  Hague  Peace  Palace. 

Q.     What  has  Milton  done  for  science? 

A.  Very  much,  — through  Roland  Hayward,  entomolo- 
gist and  author;  Edward  A.  Samuels,  ornithologist  and 
author ;  George  Mori  son,  leading  bridge  and  railway 
engineer  and  author ;  Samuel  Langley,  curator  of  the 
Smithsonian  Institute,  discoverer  of  the  principles  of 
aviation,  author ;  Peter  Leslie,  State  geologist  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  author ;  Dr.  Thaddeus  W.  Harris,  author  and  the 
foremost  entomologist  of  America  in  his  time,  in  whose 
memory  a  tablet  has  been  put  on  the  Suffolk  Resolves 
house,  where  he  lived  1820-1831  ;  A.  Lawrence  Rotch, 
meteorologist  and  author,  famous  in  both  continents  for  his 
experiments  and  records  at  the  Blue  Hill  Observatory, 
which  he  has  established  and  maintained  ;  Ellsworth  Hunt- 
ington, now  professor  at  Yale,  distinguished  explorer  and 
author. 

Q.     What  distinction  has  Milton  gained  in  literature  ? 

A.  Besides  the  authors  mentioned  above,  Milton  has 
produced  numerous  writers  of  ability,  among  the  most 
widely  known  being  Mrs.  A.  D.  T.  Whitney,  the  author  of 
many  novels,  short  stories,  and  poems ;  and  Edward  L. 
Pierce,  author  of  "  A  Memoir  and  Letters  of  Charles 
Sumner,"  etc. 


85 

Q.  What  conspicuous  political  services  have  been 
rendered  in  national  and  international  affairs  by  Milton  men  ? 

A.  Jonathan  Russell  was  charge-d'affaires  at  Paris  in 
1810,  and  at  London  in  1811.  In  1814  he  was  made 
minister  to  Sweden,  and  was  one  of  the  five  commissioners 
who  negotiated  the  Treaty  of  Ghent.  W.  Cameron  Forbes 
is  now  Governor- General  of  the  Philippine  Islands. 

Q.  In  addition  to  the  public  schools  what  private 
schools  have  there  been  in  Milton? 

A.  Besides  Milton  Academy,  which  was  founded  in 
1798  and  has  had  an  honorable  record  of  service  to  this 
town  ever  since,  there  were  Madame  Cranch's  school  on  the 
site  of  the  present  town  hall ;  Peggy  How's  school  at  the 
corner  of  Randolph  avenue  and  Centre  street ;  Polly 
Crane's  school  at  the  corner  of  Vose's  Lane  and  Centre 
street ;  Jesse  Pierce's  school  in  Milton  village  ;  a  school  for 
young  ladies  kept  in  the  Swift  house,  now  belonging  to  Mr. 
Crossman,  on  Adams  street,  first  by  Miss  Brown  and  later 
by  Miss  Elizabeth  Swift ;  and  a  school  on  Milton  Hill  kept 
for  almost  fifty  years  by  a  succession  of  teachers.  Miss 
Elizabeth  Swift  also  taught  a  private  school  in  the  back  part 
of  the  Unitarian  Church  and  later  in  a  separate  building, 
and  is  gratefully  remembered  by  many  of  her  pupils  who 
are  now  living  and  by  the  town  at  large  for  the  bequest 
known  as  the  Elizabeth  Swift  Fund. 


M*    Topics  for  Special  Study 

1.  Name  and  History  of  Persons  and  Families  Prominent 

in  Milton  History. 

2.  Origin   and   Significance    of    Town    Names,    i.e.,    of 

Streets,  Districts,  Schools,  etc. 

3.  Interesting  Features  of  Milton  Town  Government. 


86 


Milton  Record, 
Oct.  26,  1907. , 


Milton  Record, 
Pept.  3, 1910. 


4. 


5. 
6. 

7. 

8. 
9. 

10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 


Histories  and  Present  Conditions  of  the  Various  Town 

Departments,    e.g.,   Poor,    Police,    Fire,    Schools, 

Library,  etc. 
History,  Laws  and  Making  of  Highways. 
The  Functions  of  the  Various  Town  Officers. 
Comparison  of  Milton  with  other   Towns  in  Regard 

to  Wealth,  Natural  Advantages  and  Beauties,  etc. 
Changes  in  Physical  Features  of  Milton. 
Old  Milton  Landmarks,  e.g.,  Trails,  Ferries,  Taverns, 

etc. 
Milton  and  the  Metropolitan  Park  System. 
The  Finest  View  Points  in  Milton. 
Native  Trees  and  Flowers  of  Milton. 
Native  Birds  of  Milton. 
The  Pollution  of  the  Neponset. 
The  Suffolk  Resolves. 

Milton  Organizations  —  Social,  Religious,  Civic,  etc. 
St.  Michael's  Church  and  Milton  Abbey,  England. 
The  Voting  System. 
The  Taxation  System. 


87 
N*    General  References 

Adams,  John.     Works. 

Bancroft,  George.     The  History  of  the  United  States. 

Benton,  J.  H.     Early  Census  Making  in  Massachusetts. 

Boston  Evening  Journal.  March  8,  18G1,  p.  4,  col.  1;  March  21,  1863,  p.  2, 
col.  1 ;  June  6,  1892,  p.  4,  col.  G. 

Boston,  Mass.  Record  Commissioners.  (The  Fourth  Report  of  the  Record 
Commissioners  of  the  City  of  Boston,  1880.  Dorchester  Town  Records, 
1883.) 

Deane,  Charles.  Letters  and  Documents  Relating  to  Slavery  in  Massachu- 
setts. (In  Massachusetts  Historical  Society  Collections,  Fifth  series, 
v.  3,  pt.  2.) 

Dorchester,  Mass.  Records  of  the  Proprietors  of  Dorchester.  (Dorchester 
and  Milton  Almanack,  1850.) 

Eggleston,  Edward.  Social  Conditions  in  the  Colonies.  (In  Century  Maga- 
zine, October,  1884,  v.  28,  pp.  848-871.) 

Ellis,  G.  E.  Governor  Thomas  Hutchinson.  (In  Atlantic  Monthly,  May, 
1884.) 

Felt,  J.  B.  Statistics  of  Population  in  Massachusetts.  (Collection  of 
American  Statistical  Association,  v.  3.) 

Fiske,  John.     Essays,  Historical  and  Literary,  1902. 

Forbes,  J.  M.     Letters  and  Recollections,  1899. 

Forbes,  R.  B.     Personal  Reminiscences,  1882. 

Goodell,  A.  C.    Thomas  Hutchinson.    (In  American  Historical  Review,  189G.) 

Hanson,  J.  W.  History  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  of  Massachusetts  Volun- 
teers, 1866. 

Higginson,  T.  W.     Massachusetts  in  the  Army  and  Navy. 

Hosmer,  J.  K.     Life  of  Thomas  Hutchinson,  1896. 

Hutchinson,  Thomas.     Diary  and  Letters.     History  of  Massachusetts,  1795. 

Livermore,  C.  H.  Thomas  Hutchinson.  (New  England  Magazine,  Febru- 
ary, 1900.) 

Massachusetts  Acts  and  Resolves,  1791. 

Massachusetts  Body  of  Liberties,  1641. 

Massachusetts  Historical  Society.     Proceedings,  v.  3,  1859. 

Massachusetts  State  Archives. 

Milton.  Auditors.  (Annual  Reports  of  Receipts  and  Expenditures  for  the 
Years  ending  February,  1865,  February,  1866,  and  January,  1895.) 

Milton.  School  Report.  (Annual  Report  of  the  Public  Schools  of  Milton, 
Mass.,  for  the  Year  ending  1897.) 

Milton  Church  Records. 

Milton  Leader,  January  24,  1902. 

Milton  Record,  October  26,  1907 ;  Sept.  3,  1910. 


88 

Milton  Town  Records. 

Moore,  G.  H.     Notes  on  the  History  of  Slavery  in  Massachusetts,  1866. 

National  Cyclopaedia  of  American  Biography. 

Orcutt,  W.  D.     Good  Old  Dorchester,  1893. 

Palfrey,  J.  G.     The  History  of  New  England. 

Fierce,  E.  L.     Addresses,  1880. 

Pierce,  Samuel.     Diary. 

Probate  Records  of  Suffolk  County. 

Rhodes,  J.  F.     The  History  of  United  States. 

Rivers,  G.  R.  R.     The  Governor's  Garden,  1896. 

Schouler,  William.     Massachusetts  in  the  Civil  War. 

Shurtleff,  N.  B.,  editor.  Records  of  the  Colony  of  New  Plymouth.  Records 
of  the  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England. 

Suffolk  County  Deeds. 

Teele,  A.  K.  History  of  Milton,  1887.  Noted  Men  and  Historical  Narra- 
tions of  Ancient  Milton,  1900. 

Thacher,  Peter.     Will. 

Thomas,  Isaiah.  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  New  Hampshire, 
and  Vermont  Almanack,  1779  and  1801. 

Trevelyan,  G.  O.     American  Revolution,  1766-1776. 

Tyler,  M.  C.     Literary  History  of  the  American  Revolution,  1763-1783. 

United  States  Geological  Survey.     Topographic  Map  of  the  United  States. 

United  States  Senate,  30  Congress,  Session  1.     Executive  Documents. 

Ware,  Horace  E.     Powder  Mill  on  Neponset. 

Wheeler,  Joseph.     The  Santiago  Campaign,  1898. 

Winsor,  Justin.     Memorial  History  of  Boston. 

Winthrop,  John.     History  of  New  England,  1825. 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 

TO— #►      202  Main  Library                                       , 

LOAN  PERIOD  1 
_    HOME  USE 

2                                3 

4 

5                                6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

1 -month  loans  may  be  renewed  by  calling  642-3405 

6-month  loans  may  be  recharged  by  bringing  books  to  Circulation  Desk 

Renewals  and  recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  due  date 

DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 

reo  2  2  J984 

J 

c««  6« 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
FORM  NO.  DD6,  60m,  12/80        BERKELEY  CA  94720 

, 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


